Possible ‘mad sheep’ disease found
British scientists say they have found the first signs the infection known as “mad cow” disease may have crossed over into sheep.
British scientists say they have found the first signs the infection known as “mad cow” disease may have crossed over into sheep. One of three tests on a 4-year-old sheep indicated it could have died of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, it was reported Thursday. The other tests were negative. Scientists refrained from saying conclusively they had a “mad sheep” disease on their hands though they did not rule it out. Sheep long had been seen as possible targets of the infection since the animals once were fed the same infected material that had spread the brain disease in cattle during the 1980s and early 1990s. The report on the sheep, that died in January, likely will rekindle anxieties over the safety of lamb and mutton, the Independent said. The Food Standards Agency, however, said until there is firm evidence that BSE is present in the national sheep flock there is no need to change existing rules governing the sale of lamb products. Sheep already suffer from scrapie, which is similar to mad cow but cannot be passed on to people who eat meat from infected animals. (Source: United PRess International, April 2004)
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