Changes

BSE is extremely difficult to control due to its long incubation period and the fact that the altered prions are extremely resistant to heat and chemicals.  Stringent preventive measures are in place to stop the spread of the disease, prevent cattle and human exposure and to eradicate BSE from the animal population.  The most important of these measures has been the feed ban issued in 1988, prohibiting the feeding of ruminant  derived meat and bone meal (MBM)  to ruminants <ref name= Hoinville, 1994" ">Hoinville,  L.J., 1994. Decline in the incidence of BSE in cattle born after the introduction of the 'feed ban'. Veterinary Record, 134(11):274-275; 12 ref. .</ref> and the adoption of the ban by the EU in 1994.  Post mortem testing schemes and culling of infected cohort animals have also helped to reduce the spread of BSE.  So far they have resulted in a significant decrease in the number of BSE cases in the UK and other affected countries. Currently, the number of cases in the UK is decreasing.  

BSE is extremely difficult to control due to its long incubation period and the fact that the altered prions are extremely resistant to heat and chemicals.  Stringent preventive measures are in place to stop the spread of the disease, prevent cattle and human exposure and to eradicate BSE from the animal population.  The most important of these measures has been the feed ban issued in 1988, prohibiting the feeding of ruminant  derived meat and bone meal (MBM)  to ruminants <ref name= Hoinville, 1994" ">Hoinville,  L.J., 1994. Decline in the incidence of BSE in cattle born after the introduction of the 'feed ban'. Veterinary Record, 134(11):274-275; 12 ref. .</ref> and the adoption of the ban by the EU in 1994.  Post mortem testing schemes and culling of infected cohort animals have also helped to reduce the spread of BSE.  So far they have resulted in a significant decrease in the number of BSE cases in the UK and other affected countries. Currently, the number of cases in the UK is decreasing.  

For countries that are BSE free, preventative measures are ruminant to ruminant feed ban, import controls and surveillance.

For countries that are BSE free, preventative measures are ruminant to ruminant feed ban, import controls and surveillance.

[http://www.oie.int/en/animal-health-in-the-world/official-disease-status/bse/ List of Member Countries' BSE risk status from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)]

[http://www.oie.int/en/animal-health-in-the-world/official-disease-status/bse/ List of Member Countries' BSE risk status from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)]