UK News 29-08-2000 BSE Scare Linked To Sheep, Pigs and Chicken who: Medical researcher Professor John Collinge what: Says BSE may be present in fowl, pigs and sheep where: LONDON when: Today snippet: "The spectre of a hidden form of mad cow disease jumping animal species to infect lamb, pork and poultry was raised by scientists yesterday," says The Express this morning. "Not only cattle, but sheep, pigs and poultry exposed to BSE via animal feed may have developed a `subclinical` form of the disease which remained symptom-free and hidden," says The Mirror. "New research has shown that certain strains of prions, the infectious agents thought to cause BSE, can infect laboratory mice yet the animals never develop the disease," explains Steve Connor, Science Editor of The Independent. "The findings indicate that BSE can exist in a `sub-clinical` form, where high levels of infectious agent are present in an animal yet fail to result in any symptoms". "The latest developments come amid signs that the incidence of vCJD [the deadly human form of BSE] is growing at between 20% and 30% a year," says The Guardian`s James Meikle. "In Britain, 70 people have died and nine others are still alive suffering the always fatal condition". [... more]

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