Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
. . . is commonly referred to as “Mad Cow Disease.” It is a transmissible, slowly progressive, degenerative, fatal neurological disease caused by a rogue protein called a “prion.” BSE affects the central nervous system of cattle. The disease is transmitted when animals are exposed, through feed, to an infected cow’s brain or spinal tissue.
Who is at Risk? BSE affects only cattle. There is a similar disease called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), which is found in humans. There have been a small number of cases of vCJD reported, mostly in the United Kingdom. In the U.S. there is no significant risk of contracting the disease through consumption of meat, dairy products, gelatin, or other animal-derived products given the government’s surveillance and protection system. Several enhancements were added in January 2004 to strengthen the current protection system. Eating beef, drinking milk and consuming dairy products continues to be safe.
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
. . . is a foreign, severe, and a highly communicable viral disease of cattle, swine and other cloven-hoofed animals. The disease, caused by a virus, spreads rapidly and is one of the animal diseases most dreaded by livestock owners. The disease is characterized by fever and blister-like lesions followed by erosions on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves of infected animals. Animals are capable of recovering, but the disease leaves them debilitated.
. . . is not a threat to human health. There is no evidence that humans can contract the disease through consumption of meat, dairy products, gelatin, or other animal-derived products. FMD viruses can however, be spread by animals, people or materials that bring the virus into physical contact with susceptible animals. The U.S. has been free of FMD since 1929 and the USDA and other federal agencies provide stringent safety measures to maintain a high level of protection from the disease.
Who is at Risk? FMD does not affect humans directly; any impact would be mostly economic affecting livestock and related industries, including some restrictions on travel. Cloven-hoofed animals that come in contact with infected animals are at greatest risk of contracting the disease.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI or Avian Flu)
. . . is an extremely infectious and fatal form of avian flu for chickens. Birds affected with avian flu may show signs of lack of energy, decreased egg production, nasal discharge and even sudden death.
. . . is not transmitted to humans by consumption of infected chickens. However, particular strains of the avian flu virus can be infectious to humans via exposure to infected flocks or live birds. The disease can be spread from bird to bird by direct contact, and Avian flu viruses can also be spread on equipment, vehicles and people whose clothing or shoes have come in contact with the virus. The United States has not imported live poultry from any of the countries experiencing the current Highly Pathenogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak and prohibits such imports from countries that are not recognized as free of avian flu.
Who is at Risk? At this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not issued any travel alerts or advisories for particular regions in response to the avian flu outbreak. CDC does recommend travelers to regions experiencing outbreaks of the disease avoid areas with live poultry, such as animal markets and poultry farms, and only eat properly handled and cooked poultry products. U.S. residents are advised however to consult their physician for advice about which vaccines they should obtain prior to travel to these affected regions.
