Why Does Mad Cow Disease Occur?

What Is Mad Cow Disease and What Are Its Symptoms? is one of the most important questions in terms of food safety in animal products. Mad cow disease, scientifically known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects the central nervous system of cattle. Unlike infections caused by bacteria or viruses, this disease is triggered by misfolded proteins called prions. When prions enter the body, they alter the structure of normal proteins, forming sponge-like holes in the brain tissue. As a result, the animal’s behavior changes, muscle control deteriorates, and movement ability gradually declines. First detected in the United Kingdom in the 1980s, the disease quickly spread throughout Europe. The most common mad cow disease symptoms include unsteady walking, aggression, tremors, reduced milk yield, and muscle stiffness. As these symptoms progress, the animal eventually becomes immobile and dies within weeks.

Why Does Mad Cow Disease Occur and How Does It Spread

The cause of mad cow disease lies in prions, which are abnormal forms of otherwise harmless proteins. These faulty proteins infect healthy ones, causing a chain reaction that leads to extensive damage in the brain. The most common route of transmission is through animal feed containing contaminated animal remains.
1. When meat-and-bone meal made from cattle or sheep carcasses is added to feed, prions can spread to healthy animals.
2. If waste from infected animals is not properly destroyed, it can contaminate the environment.
3. Inadequate sterilization in slaughterhouses allows the infection to spread rapidly.
The major outbreak in the 1980s in the UK began due to the uncontrolled use of such feed. The disease can also pass to humans through the consumption of contaminated meat. The human form is known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), a fatal brain disorder. Prions are highly resistant to heat and chemicals, making them impossible to eliminate with conventional sterilization methods.

Consequences and Prevention of Mad Cow Disease

Mad cow disease poses a serious threat to both the livestock industry and public health. In cattle, it causes irreversible brain damage, while in humans it manifests after a long incubation period-typically between 5 and 15 years. Symptoms in humans include coordination problems, muscle stiffness, speech difficulty, mental confusion, and personality changes. There is currently no cure, but prevention is possible through strict control measures.
1. The use of animal-derived feed must be completely banned.
2. A traceability system for meat products should be enforced.
3. Suspicious or dead cattle must be destroyed before entering the food chain.
4. Hygiene standards in meat and dairy production must remain at the highest level.
5. International trade from regions with known outbreaks should be tightly monitored.
Thanks to these precautions, the disease has been largely contained in the European Union and many developed countries.

Mad cow disease represents an agricultural crisis fueled by human negligence. The use of unnatural feed, lack of regulation, and economic priorities created the foundation for this disaster. The disease affects not only animals but also human health. The answers to the questions What is mad cow disease and what are its symptoms reveal that the issue is not only biological but also a lesson in human responsibility. Today, strict inspections in modern food production serve as the main safeguard against similar outbreaks. The resilient nature of prions shows once again how essential preventive measures are for protecting both animals and people. / 2025-11-03 00:54:19