mad cow disease (BSE)

Mad cow disease, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is a neurological disorder affecting cattle caused by misfolded proteins called prions. These prions damage the brain and spinal cord, leading to severe neurodegeneration. Infected cows may exhibit abnormal behaviors, difficulty walking, and weight loss. BSE can be transmitted to humans through contaminated beef products, resulting in a rare and serious condition known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). The outbreak in the 1980s and 1990s prompted strict regulations in livestock feed and beef production to protect both animal and human health.