Mad Sheep Disease to kill 150,000

The prediction was made by scientists from Imperial College, London after a mathematical model was applied to meat consumers. The figures represent a worst case scenario and are purely theoretical, being based on an assumption that BSE would migrate to sheep.

The results of the study show that up to 50,000 people may die of Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE, or Mad Cow Disease), while up to 150,000 could be infected with the prion called Ovine Spongiform Encephalitis (OSE, or Mad Sheep Disease).

Professor Fergusson, the scientist leading the team, stated that although the study was centred on theoretical extrapolations, there was a strong possibility that BSE could migrate to sheep. This claim has been backed up by other leading scientists, although there is no evidence to date of such an occurrence.

Should there be an outbreak of OSE, there would be a strong possibility of this causing the human form of the disease, vCJD (new variant Creuzfeld-Jacob Disease), believed until now to be connected with eating infected beef.

The aim of the study is to alert the authorities to pay attention to the issue before it happens. Performing tests on animals enables the authorities to detect cases early in the infection cycle, while feeding animals properly avoids the onset of the disease altogether.

Basically, feeding sheep with pulverised cows’ brains is not exactly what Mother Nature had intended.

John ASHTEAD PRAVDA.Ru LONDON UNITED KINGDOM