BSE infection timeline

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, has an incubation period that can range from several months to several years after infection. The disease begins when a cow ingests contaminated feed, with the infectious agents gradually accumulating in the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms typically develop later, including changes in behavior, coordination problems, and weight loss. During this period, the cow appears healthy but is infectious, posing a risk to other cattle and humans if consumed. After symptoms appear, the disease progresses rapidly, leading to neurological deterioration and death.