Mad cow disease- how can you get it??

Nurses General Nursing

Published

How is mad cow spread from person to person?? I looked it up and it appears just through the blood. I think you cannot get it through coughing, breathing on someone, sneezing, etc. Can anyone verify?? Did not find much...

Thank you!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
How is mad cow spread from person to person?? I looked it up and it appears just through the blood. I think you cannot get it through coughing, breathing on someone, sneezing, etc. Can anyone verify?? Did not find much...

Thank you!!

going to bed and wish i could help more, but found this and thought you might find it interesting and maybe u could do some more research on it??

This is from the U of Maryland Med Center, so would be considered a valid source, etc...

"Some reports have indicated that some vaccines given to kids have been made with products that could carry variant CJD or Mad Cow Disease. Is that true?

Those reports are true. There were some measles vaccines taken off the market in France because some of those vaccines were suspected to have been made with bovine products that are commonly used in vaccine preparations. Authorities, including the U.S. FDA, are scrutinizing how vaccines are made and how those products have been obtained, but the concerns about vaccines have lessened because of strict regulations about the use of bovine products."

References

Constantine, N. (2010). Making sense of mad cow disease. Retrieved on July 1, 2010 from: Making Sense of Mad Cow Disease

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I heard that only eating organs from an infected animal was the source of human exposure. (Brains, liver, etc)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Only through the brain tissue.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Fact Sheet: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

I know when I spent over 3 months overseas in the UK I was not permitted to give blood back here in the US. The whole time we only ate vegetarian, poultry or mutton.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You can get it through blood (thats why if you've lived in the UK you cannot donate blood) and its also been found in saliva and other bodily fluids. Its not just bovine. Elk and deer can spread it amongst themselves, pork and chicken can carry it as well. Its a prion (smaller than a virus and they think viruses actually carry the prions... they can easily pass through the blood brain barrier) that infects brain matter and the spinal cord. There are strict regulations of which body parts CANNOT be used in food products now. The whole way it started: farmers were feeding thier cows byproducts with brain and spinal cord tissues from other infected slaughtered animals.

Its scary actually. How do we really know companies are following the regulations? Whats really in our hotdogs and chicken nuggets? Its a horrible horrible painful disease thats always ends in death with the patient being straight up tortured until they do die. Humans are susceptible to the other strains as well, not just bovine. It really turns me off to meat, and I try to stay away from ground beef, hotdogs, and anything that could potentially have nervous tissue or others infected parts involved since I certainly do not trust manufacturers. Better to go to a local butcher you trust.

I'm sure you should be able to access many great articles in veterinary medical journals if you have access.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Only through the brain tissue.

I do not believe that statement to be true. I believe an organ transplant has the capacity to transmit CJD, and also blood transfusions. However, the screening process for organs/blood has been vastly improved in the last few years. CJD should not be an everyday concern for very many people.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.
You can get it through blood (thats why if you've lived in the UK you cannot donate blood) and its also been found in saliva and other bodily fluids. Its not just bovine. Elk and deer can spread it amongst themselves, pork and chicken can carry it as well. Its a prion (smaller than a virus and they think viruses actually carry the prions... they can easily pass through the blood brain barrier) that infects brain matter and the spinal cord. There are strict regulations of which body parts CANNOT be used in food products now. The whole way it started: farmers were feeding thier cows byproducts with brain and spinal cord tissues from other infected slaughtered animals.

Its scary actually. How do we really know companies are following the regulations? Whats really in our hotdogs and chicken nuggets? Its a horrible horrible painful disease thats always ends in death with the patient being straight up tortured until they do die. Humans are susceptible to the other strains as well, not just bovine. It really turns me off to meat, and I try to stay away from ground beef, hotdogs, and anything that could potentially have nervous tissue or others infected parts involved since I certainly do not trust manufacturers. Better to go to a local butcher you trust.

I'm sure you should be able to access many great articles in veterinary medical journals if you have access.

Very, very true. In my career, I have only had one patient with CJD, and it is NOT pretty. Very sad.

Everything you said about our food line is true as well, which is a big part of the reason why my family follows a vegetarian/now more of a vegan diet. You simply cannot trust the government or big business to protect us....they are out to simply make a profit, the bigger the better. Read Fast Food Nation....your whole outlook will be changed. Gives "You are What you Eat" a whole new meaning.

Ok-I'm done hijacking the thread!! But this is something I'm very passionate about.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.
However, the screening process for organs/blood has been vastly improved in the last few years. CJD should not be an everyday concern for very many people.

Currently there is not a accurate test available to screen blood donations for vCJD so anyone who is high risk must be deferred from donating. I do agree though that CJD should not be an everyday concern for very many people and the screening process has greatly improved.

Also, bovine insulin is also suspected for being able to transmit vCJD.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had someone breathe on me who had it. I cannot get it that way... right?? I am guessing not. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No its not airborne.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment