Potential upsurge in USGA re foam product to "clean-up" facilities contaminated by Mad Cow. Nightline report on ABC mentioned cow had been rendered and distributed. It is not believed that a public health crisis is immenent, but all these facilities, the farm etc. MUST be cleaned before reuse.
It is noteworthy that our beef industry can no longer export until cleanup and other related activities are completed to the satisfaction of appropriate governing bodies. (Outside the US I believe). It was mentioned on the program that the US action for other countries with madcow was an immediate "blockade" A tit for tat mentality may exist against us now, so until the foriegn entities grant us an all clear, we won't be exporting any beef.
Madcow won't hit you for about 7 years after exposure, so the chances of finding human crossover is unlikely right now. It will be interesting to see how the govt. reacts. As a show of good faith to our world neighbors, I would imagine we will have to incinerate the plants and the herds in question as well as the vehicles (trucks-trains) the material was transported. Expect a world wide waiting period before our beef can be exported. How long did the Euro Union make GB wait? How long did Argentina get "cut off"? The experts believe the disease is transported to the victim via nervous tissue- Brains, so Tabby and Fido are more at risk than people. A factor favorable for the propagation of madcow was the reuse of livestock "renderings" to be turned back into "foodstock" for the same animals. Sort of like cannibalism, but rhe earlier madcow episodes taught the world a lesson and the practice has been curtailed in most areas. I do not know if the US plant affected rendered to feedstock in this fashion. !Expect a big stink about lack of USGA inspections, because of lack of manpower.)
I guess my mother was right when she said "Eat your veggies"!
Stakddek
