Mad cow emoji (iStock)
For many years, the world had not heard of “mad cow” disease, which was once one of the most dangerous epidemics in the 1990s.
But after the passage of those years, it seems that the disease has returned recently, as the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture announced yesterday, Thursday, that Iran, Jordan and Thailand have temporarily stopped importing beef from the country, while the authorities are investigating a case of mad cow disease from Para state.
Stop imports after a hit
The ministry also confirmed that Russia had also stopped imports from Para state after discovering a case of mad cow disease there, according to Reuters.
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Cow’s milk (iStock)
This came after the Brazilian authorities opened an immediate investigation into a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or what is commonly known as “mad cow”, after an infection was detected in a 9-year-old male animal from Para state.
While the animal has been culled, test results are pending to determine whether it has contracted the classic form of the disease or if it is an atypical condition that can occur spontaneously in livestock and is not dependent on ingestion of prion-contaminated feed.
The classic form of mad cow disease is considered the most dangerous because it involves contamination with the prion protein and could lead to widespread trade bans.
Killed within a year
It is noteworthy that in 1993 in particular, mad cow disease was considered an epidemic among cows, as the rate of infection was estimated at about 1000 cases per week.
About Scientific Research (iStock)
At that time, it caused a great loss of livestock.
Mad cow disease is transmitted to humans through eating infected beef, so it is possible that countries do not buy meat belonging to cows or livestock in general that are likely to be infected with this disease, such as old cows.
It is also a fatal disease that affects the central nervous system, and causes a rapidly increasing dementia with muscle spasms, tremors, and stiffness.
While there is no known treatment for it to this day, amid great warnings of its seriousness, as it is often a fatal disease within one year.
