The Telegraph, a British newspaper and website, is today reporting the official end of the BSE epidemic. Let us hope that is so.
In Canada, the last case was officially reported in February 2010, bringing the total to 17 cases found since 2003.
Coincidentally, 17 cases of BSE were reported worldwide in 2010. The small number leads some to conclude the epidemic is now over, according to the Telegraph. Here is a link to the full article.
For Britain, BSE problems began in 1987 with initial reports about a mysterious cattle disease. Most of us recall how events played out after that, with a massive health scare, dire warnings about Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease, the human version of BSE, and then discovery of BSE cases in Canada and the United States, as well as other countries.
All of that led to trade embargoes, market challenges, new regulations and implications that are still felt today in our beef industry.
Is BSE over? Let us fervently hope instances of the disease are over. But the effects of BSE will be with us forever.
BSE truly over?
Reading Time: < 1 minute
Related Coverage
explore
Stories from our other publications
