Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Epidemiology
The incidence and distribution in Montana and elsewhere, along with the information regarding the spread of the disease.
How BSE spreads:
There is no evidence that BSE spreads horizontally, for example, by contact between unrelated adult cattle or from cattle to other species. Limited research suggests that maternal or vertical transmission may occur at a very low level. Research in this area is continuing.
BSE may be spread when meat-and-bone meal from infected animals is fed to cattle; feeding other high-risk materials such as spinal cords, brains, eyes, tonsils.
Incidence in the United States:
In December 2003, one case of BSE was reported in the State of Washington from a cow born in Canada and slaughtered in Washington.
U.S.D.A. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state animal health departments enforce import restrictions, ruminant feed regulations, and conduct surveillance for BSE to ensure that this disease does not become established in the United States.
Incidence in other countries:
The vast majority of cases of BSE have been reported from the United Kingdom during an epidemic. However, cases have been reported in other European countries. The World Organization for Animal Health (http://www.oie.int/eng/en_index.htm) maintains statistics for the international community.
BSE has been confirmed in the United Kingdom and native-born cattle in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, Austria, Finland, Greece, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia. In addition, animals with BSE have been imported into Canada, Falkland Islands and Oman.