What is it?

Mad Cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects cattle. This disease damages the nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal cord. Typically adult cattle are affected the m(ost, but there have been cases where BSE has been found in younger cattle. BSE can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of meat. During the slaughtering process if meat, in anyway, comes into contact with a contaminated brain or spinal cord the disease is transmitted. If meat has become tainted with BSE it is nearly impossible to get rid of the virus. Even cooking the meat at high temperatures cannot kill the prions responsible. This is exactly why Mad Cow disease is so fatal.

Photo Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_spongiform_encephalopathy

Link: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/beef/as1206w.htm

"Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE; Mad Cow Disease)." Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE; Mad Cow Disease). Web. 09 May 2012. <http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/beef/as1206w.htm>.