Still another cow has been identified as having Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE )or Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in humans (aka Mad Cow Disease). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants us to believe this latest incident is nothing to be concerned about, as this is a dairy cow, and as such - cannot transmit this disease.
This is not an acceptable answer for me. If this cow is infected, and we don't know how it got infected, how many more cattle are in our food supply with the disease? Truth is, no one knows how many cows are effected because only a portion of our cattle is tested. According to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation (CJDF); the USDA randomly 40,000 cows per year.
Thirty-five million cows are slaughtered annually. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that is not much of a test. According to The Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation (CJDF), the USDA feels that the test is working, as only 4 cases have been detected since the first infected cow was discovered in 2003.
Moreover, according the CJDF, the USDA is considering relaxing the Over 30 Month (OTM) rule that has been enacted to protect the government meat supply in this country. Should this happen, cattle from other countries will be introduced into our meat supply, upping the odds that cattle will be infected.
I had a good friend contract Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Her earliest symptoms were that she felt dizzy. She initially thought it was an ear disorder. A CT scan confirmed the diagnosis. Shortly after this first symptom, she lost her vision and was bedridden.
In 6 weeks she was dead. I was devastated.
I don't want this to happen to anyone. It is a cruel and horrific disease. We need to be accountable for our families and loved ones, and fight this legislation. Because it is still a relatively rare disease, it is not a hot topic for most Americans.
If you have more questions and concerns please check out the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, website, or contact them at 1-800-659-1991.
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