Mad Cow Disease
Are we really safe from it in the U.S.A ?
Mad Cow Disease AKA bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is caused by a misshapen or
mutated protein molecule (prion) which replicates itself in the brain. Not a virus,
bacteria or parasite, not even a living organism, it is indestructible, it cannot be
destroyed by heat (even when turned to ash), chemicals or radiation. Furthermore, this
protein seems to have the ability to jump the species barrier, at least in mammals. In
other words when consumed it can be passed to humans from cows or vise versa in most any
species.
Spongiform encephalitis is a disease in which the brain develops tiny holes throughout the
tissue, until the brain resembles a sponge!
Other aliases:
- AKA, Chronic wasting disease in deer and elk.
- AKA, Scrapie in infected sheep.
- AKA, brain-wasting illnesses.
- AKA, vCJD variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (Human form).
- AKA, Human Prion Diseases.
- ALL AKA TSEs (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies).
The whole problem began when cows were feed a high protein feed made with bone meal in
order to improve their health and fatten them quickly. Bone meal is animal meat and bones,
a product made from left over animal parts obtained from slaughter houses (cow
cannibalism). Cows were not meant to eat meat in the first place, much less eat their own.
They are grazing animals! Many, animals in the United States are still being feed this
enhanced bone meal diet in order to fatten them up quickly.
TSEs are diseases believed to occur roughly at a one in a million rate per year in all
species of mammals due to de novo mutation (unknown mutation). When an animal is feed the
meat or bones of another animal who has this disease they intern develop the disease. This
is the general theory. Spongiform encephalolitis is known to occur in humans who eat their
own (cannibals)! A study sponsored by NIH (National Institute of Health) research was done
shortly after the Mad Cow outbreak, in which a tribe of primitive peoples living in the
primordial rain forests of Papua, New Guinea had developed a disease they called Kuru
(trembling disease) which was found to be Mad Cow disease. These primitive people didn't
eat cow. However, they had been involved in the ritual consumption of their deceased
relatives (including brain matter) for centuries. The closest blood relatives were given
the most important body parts (pieces of brain). They believed that doing so was in honor
of the dead and in some way transferred the life-force and knowledge of the dead to the
living. This gruesome discovery lead scientists to a better understanding of how the
disease works.
With respect to plasma products (blood transfusions) and vaccines, human transplants,
animal to human transplants, these all can transmit this protein! Drugs and vaccines,
including those given to millions of American children, have been made with products that
could carry mad cow disease, in defiance of repeated requests from the Food and Drug
Administration, the New York Times reported:
"The nine vaccines include some regularly given to millions of American children,
including common vaccines to prevent polio, diphtheria and tetanus," the paper wrote.
"They also include the anthrax vaccine, which the government requires for soldiers
serving in the Persian Gulf."
Doctors are not required to report cases of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease to federal health
officials. Elderly victims may be misdiagnosed as suffering from senility or Alzheimer's.
There is thought to even be a link in other psychological problems. SEE THIS www.cyber-dyne.com/~tom/psycho_4-5-96_nyt.htm
CJD (Creutzfeld-Jakob disease) mainly afflicts the elderly, vCJD appears among younger
people, almost certainly from eating prion contaminated meat. The gruesome death starts
with mood swings, numbness and uncontrolled body movements. Eventually the mind is
destroyed.
Concerning Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. Three Americans under the age of 30 who had
Creutzfeld-Jakob disease ate deer and elk meat when they were young, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The deaths were unusual since CJD rarely
strikes young people, although in England most of the victims of CJD were young.
Chronic wasting disease has struck elk and deer in Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and
Oklahoma. In Canada, authorities destroyed 1,700 elk last year after they were exposed to
the disease. Scientists are investigating whether chronic wasting disease could spread
from elk or deer to humans.
"In fact, Canada imported 2.8 million kilograms of blood meal, meat scraps, bone
meal and waste meat between 1996 and 2000 from European countries since shown to have mad
cow disease outbreaks (Source: Statistics Canada, International Trade Division)."
How are the deer and elk getting this disease? Deer are often baited. Hunters will set
out cow feed to attract them. Also the Forestry service in an attempt to prevent
starvation among elk and deer (due to deforestation or extremely cold winters) are feeding
them this bone meal enhanced feed!
What are the risks of American developing the same widespread problems as Briton? Well,
The Toronto Star, January 20, 2001, reported that recent inspections in the United States
revealed that of 9,500 feed mills visited, less than 2,700 were abiding by feed
regulations to protect against BSE! Deer and elk are almost never checked!
Since the FDA instituted the feed ban in 1997, the agency has been making the rounds, yet
many researchers believe that this BAN in not being enforced. Sheldon Rampton, the
researcher and author of "Mad Cow USA," agrees that the government has not
tested enough cattle to assure that the disease is not here. In his book he documents
cases where ranch-raised mink were fed with U.S. "downer" cows (animals that
died from unknown causes) developed the mink version of TSE, implying that some form of
BSE had infected the cattle they were feed. He said if U.S. officials tested more cattle
in this country, they would more than likely find the disease. At the time his book was
published, only about 12,000 cattle had been tested here over the past 11 years, while
France in they had tested more than 20,000 animals in the past year alone.
Globalization of both BSE and its accompaning CJD?
Animal waste meat (bone meal) not only for animal feed, but human consumption, has been
imported from Briton to the United States and over 100 countries for 20 years prior to the
outbreak! More info here www.mad-cow.org/UKCJD/CJD_news38.html
Milk products SAFE?
Can TSEs be in our milk products? Well, most of the worlds leading scientist think not,
but some are still in the process of testing to eliminate any doubt. This is from The
Guardian, The UK's most popular newspaper website:
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Agriculture said that the inquiry would cost
£800,000. It followed a recommendation by the spongiform encephalopathy advisory
committee (Seac), set up by the government to monitor the brain-wasting disease.
"Milk is safe but this research is to put it beyond doubt," the spokeswoman
said. "It is a precautionary measure and previous studies have shown milk is
safe."
Free range meats
This is an animal feed only grasses and natural feeds (hay and grains) and given no
hormones or drugs. With worries escalating about mad cow disease and other problems
associated with factory-farm raised meats, free range meats are becoming increasingly
popular, just check the growing selection at your local health food store. Many resturants
are now serving free range meats. They can also be ordered over the web.
Alternative protein sources
Many foods are high protein, below is a list of foods and supplements.
Now, for all the Vegetarians out there! Think you are safe do you! Especially if you
grow your own vegies. Bone/blood meal is in many popular organic fertilizers! OK, folks,
guess what you are feeding your dogs and cats? LEARN to READ YOUR LABELS!
Copyright 2002 Herbal Remedies USA LLC & Deb Jackson
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