How can mad cow disease be prevented

Additionally, people cannot get the disease from drinking milk or eating dairy products. The only common way for both humans and cows to contract the disease is to eat food containing contaminated tissue from cows that have the disease.

The disease also has an incubation period, so the person is unlikely to feel sick immediately after consuming the contaminated food. It may take years for the disease to cause noticeable symptoms.

The disease damages brain tissue, leading to symptoms such as:. As the disease affects more and more brain tissue, the symptoms will get worse over time before the person dies. There is no known cure for vCJD. Instead, treatment focuses on supporting the person and easing other symptoms they may feel as the disease progresses. For example, doctors may provide walking devices, drugs to ease pain, or other supportive care for the person. In most cases, another underlying condition is likely causing similar symptoms.

However, it is still important to speak with a doctor as soon as possible. Anyone experiencing troubling symptoms, such as tingling or stinging sensations in their arms, legs, or face, should see a doctor. Many nerve-related conditions could cause these symptoms, and a prompt diagnosis may help give the person a better outlook.

Government agencies, such as the FDA and CDC, have taken steps in recent years to help prevent all forms of mad cow disease. The FDA note that since , there has been a ban on feeding most parts of cows and other animals to cattle to help reduce the risk of BSE spreading.

These regulations help ensure that any food that a person comes into contact with is free from the abnormal proteins that may cause the disease. The CDC also work with state health departments to monitor and test for abnormal proteins in dead cows and investigate reports from healthcare personnel if they suspect a case of vCJD.

This monitoring helps ensure that they identify and reduce the likelihood of outbreaks. Mad cow disease occurs when cattle consume damaged proteins in the brain or spinal tissue of other cattle in their feed. A variant of this disease, called vCJD, may occur in humans who eat meat contaminated with proteins from the brain or spinal tissue of a sick cow.

Government programs and regulations have now banned the practices that could potentially allow contaminated proteins to enter the food supply in both humans and animals. There is no known treatment for the equivalent of mad cow disease in humans. This is because most cases occur spontaneously for an unknown reason sporadic CJD and some are caused by an inherited genetic fault familial CJD.

Sterilisation methods used to help prevent bacteria and viruses spreading also aren't completely effective against the infectious protein prion that causes CJD. But tightened guidelines on the reuse of surgical equipment mean that cases of CJD spread through medical treatment iatrogenic CJD are now very rare. There are also measures in place to prevent variant CJD spreading through the food chain and the supply of blood used for blood transfusions.

Eating meat or bone meal from infected cattle causes mad cow disease. Doctors focus on eliminating other diseases and conditions that have similar symptoms. For example, a blood test can help rule out some other brain diseases that are similar to mad cow disease. Doctors can order a spinal fluid test to see if the protein present in mad cow disease is present in your spinal fluid. Mad cow disease is extremely rare in the United States.

Most cases have occurred in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom. They also prevent high-risk cows and cow products from entering the country from other countries. These and other steps have worked very well to keep mad cow disease out of the United States. If you are traveling to another country, the best way to reduce your risk is to avoid eating beef.

There is no cure for mad cow disease. Doctors focus on providing patients and their caregivers advice for support. Living with mad cow disease means learning to adapt to the changes and complications of brain deterioration. They are no longer able to care for themselves. Caregivers will be given guidance on the best ways to care for their loved one at this stage. This article was contributed by: familydoctor.

This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

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