[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shannymara', 'T')hat's cool. I just hope people who are interested will take the time (it doesn't take long to read up on this, and I have provided two good sources) to educate themselves

[sklump]

It was a matter of time.

Now those blocking imports of Canadian beef at last haven't got a leg to stand on, just like the Canadian side has been saying for years.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

Minister bids to allay fears over vCJD blood donor
2005-07-01

Health Minister Mary Harney has insisted the national blood supply is safe after a suspected vCJD carrier was allowed to donate blood.

Last night it emerged that a young man who is being treated in a Dublin hospital for a probable case of the fatal human form of Mad Cow Disease had given blood.

Two people received blood from the man and one has since died from an unrelated condition.

Ms Harney said the man had given blood recently following an appeal for donors by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS).

But she said today: "Our blood supply is secure and operates to the highest possible international standards.

"The Blood Service has done an enormous amount of work in recent years in making sure that is the case.

"I would have full confidence in the Blood Service."

Ms Harney said it was always predicted that there would be a number of cases of vCJD in this country.

It is not known how the man in question contracted vCJD, but the incubation period can be up to 10 years.

The hospital where the man is being treated is awaiting tests to confirm the vCJD infection.

The IBTS said that there was no way to test blood donors for vCJD.

Full article here

[rockdoc123]

I heard an interesting comment from a Texan last week. He suggested that in Texas some ranchers had been adopting the "shoot, shovel and shut-up" approach to dealing with mad cow. Perhaps just another of those "look out for the black helicopters and put on your tin foil hat" conspiracy theories but sure would change your panic level if it were true, assuming you think it is a huge danger in the first place.

[sklump]

"Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up" was a documentary that ran up here on CBC concerning Mad Cow and the bizarro world of the beef industry

You must admit, it would be so much easier for a farmer to do just that.

Some advocates are suggesting that many cases currently diagnosed as Alzheimer's are CJD. I don't know how much stock to put in this. All's I know, I can afford to buy less meat and make sure it's from local, small farms.