Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

BSE safety standards: An evaluation of public health policies of Japan, Europe, and USA

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Since the advent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United Kingdom in 1986, new BSE cases have recently become rare. However, in Japan and the United States, positive cases have started to be seen recently. The rise in BSE cases paved the way for the human form of this disease, the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). The observed trends in the UK may be attributed to effective implementation of public health policies coupled with increased vigilance through advancement in science and technology, or they may well be a reflection of the natural disease progression. We aim to discuss the BSE chronology of events, and compare examination methods, costs and cost-efficiency, management, and public policies of Japan, Europe, and the USA.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brown, P. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. BMJ. 2001; 322: 841–844.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Wells GAH, Hawkins SAC, Green RB, Austin AR, Dexter YI, Chaplin MJ, et al. Preliminary observations on the pathogenesis of experimental bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE): an update. Vet Rec. 1998; 142: 103–106.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Greger, M. Could mad cow disease already be killing thousands of Americans every year? Organic Consumers Assoc [serial online] 2004 January 7 [cited 2004 March 30]. Available from: URL: http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/GregerCJDkills.cfm

  4. Brown P, Will RG, Bradley R, Asher DM, Detwiler L. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: background, evolution and current concerns. Emerg Infect Dis. 2001; 7: 6–16.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. The National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit. The different types of CJD. 2002 June [cited 2005 July 28]. Available from: URL: http://www.cjd.ed.ac.uk/

  6. Ghani AC, Ferguson NM, Donnelly CA, Anderson RM. Predicted vCJD mortality in Great Britain. Nature. 2000; 406: 583–584.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Center for Emerging Issues. Suspected bovine spongiform encephalopathy, Japan: impact worksheet 2001 September 17 [cited 2004 April 22]. Available from: URL: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/cei/IW_2001_files/bse_japan0901.htm

  8. Ananova News. Japan confirms first BSE case. [cited 2004 April 26]. Available from: URL: http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_405066.html

  9. Truss W. Japan confirms first BSE case: Australia bans beef imports. 2001 September 24. [cited 2004 April 26]. Available from: URL: http://www.affa.gov.au/ministers/truss/releases/01/01261.wt.html

  10. Office International des Epizooties. Number of reported cases of BSE worldwide. 2005 July 26. [cited 2005 July 28]. Available from: URL: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/en_esbmonde.htm

  11. Office International des Epizooties. Annual incidence rate of BSE in OIE member countries that have reported cases. excluding the UK. Number of indigenous cases per million bovines aged over 24 months. 2005 July 26. [cited 2004 July 28]. Available from: URL: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/en_esbincidence.htm

  12. Office International des Epizooties. Disease information: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Japan. 2003 January 24. [cited 2004 April 22]. Available from: URL: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_35.HTM#Sec3

  13. Office International des Epizooties. Disease information: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Japan. Atypical case. 2003 October 10. [cited 2004 April 22]. Available from: URL: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_76.HTM#Sec2

  14. Ainsworth C, Carrington D. BSE disaster: the history. New Scientist. 2000 October 25 [cited 2004 April 19]. Available from: URL: http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/bse/bse.jsp?id=ns999991

  15. Office International des Epizooties. Number of cases of BSE reported in the UK. 2005 July 26. [cited 2005 July 28]. Available from: URL: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/en_esbru.htm

  16. Center for Emerging Issues. Summary of selected disease events. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy. 2000 July–December [cited 2004 April 22]. Available from: URL: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/cei/disease summary0201.htm

  17. Cable News Network. Germany to make BSE testing mandatory. 30 November 2000 [cited 2004 November 29]. Available from: URL: http://edition.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/europe/germany/11/30/bse.soil/

  18. Office International des Epizooties. Annual ineidence rate of BSE in the UK. Number of indigenous cases per million bovines aged over 24 months. 2005 July 26. [cited 2005 July 28]. Available from: URL: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/en_esbruincidence.htm

  19. Current story of BSE in USA. [cited 2004 November 25]. Available from: URL: http://www.priondata.org/data/A_USBSE.html

  20. BSE: USDA actions to prevent bovine spongiform encephalopathy. 2004 January 21 [cited 2004 November 25]. Available from: URL: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/bsechron.html

  21. MacKenzie D, Bhattacharya S. US bans consumption of crippled cows. New Scientist. 2003 December 31 [cited 2004 April 20]. Available from: URL: http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/bse/bse.jsp?id=ns99994523

  22. USDA. Case of BSE in the US: chronology of events. [cited 2004 April 25]. Available from: URL: http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2003/12/bsechronology.htm

  23. Bonne J. Mad cow testing: what is the goal? MSNBC News. 25 March 2004 [cited 2004 April 02]. Available from: URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4588929

  24. Final Report Japan-United States BSE Working Group. 22 July 2004 [cited 2004 August 03]. Available from: URL: http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/BSEW GiFinal072204.pdf

  25. Office International des Epizooties. Disease information: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Japan. 2003 Jan 24 [cited 2004 April 22]. Available from: URL: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/AIS_35.HTM#Sec3

  26. Martin A. More mad cow tests weighed to calm Japan. Chicago Tribune. 2004 January 16 [cited 2004 April 2]. Available from: URL: http://www.organiconsumers.org/madcow/tribune11604.cfm

  27. Watts J. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy case found in Japan. The Lancet. 2001; 358: 991.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Ananova News. Japan confirms first BSE case. [cited 2004 April 26]. Available from: URL: http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_405066.html

  29. Food Standards Agency. Over thirty months review. [cited 2004 April 21]. Available from: URL: http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/foodindustry/meat/otmreview/

  30. Ferguson NM, Donnelly CA, Woolhouse MEJ, Anderson RM. Estimation of the basic reproduction number of BSE: the intensity of transmission in British cattle. Proc Biol Sci. 1999; 266: 23–32.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Food Standards Agency. FSA board to consider replacement of OTM rule. [cited 2004 April 21]. Available from: URL: http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/otmrulejuly03

  32. Center for Emerging Issues. Summary of selected disease events. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy. 2001 January–March [cited 2004 Apr 22]. Available from: URL: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/cei/DiseaseSummary_files/disease_summary0401.htm

  33. Official Journal of the European Communities. Commission Decision of 27 December 2000 amending Decision 2000/418/EC regulating the use of material presenting risks as regards transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Article 1; Annex 1 (a); i–ii; (b).

  34. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance. [cited 2004 March 31]. Available from: URL: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/bse-surveillance.html

  35. Organic Consumers Association. USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: current thinking on measures that could be implemented to minimize human exposure to materials that could potentially contain the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent. 2002 January 15 [cited 2004 November 30]. Available from: URL: http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/fsis11502.cfm

  36. Greger M. US violates World Health Organization guidelines for mad cow disease: a comparison of North American and European safeguards Organic Consumers Assoc [serial online] 2003 July 15 [cited 2004 March 31]. Available from: URL: http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/GregerBSE.cfm

  37. Food Standards Agency. OTM rule-your questions answered. [cited 2004 April 21]. Available from: URL: http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/foodindustry/meat/otmreview/otm_faq/

  38. MacKenzie D. Tomorrow the world: have contaminated feed exports spread BSE across the globe? New Scientist. 2001 February 10 [cited 2004 April 16]. Available from: URL: http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/bse/bse.jsp?id=22771200

  39. MacKenzie D. US beef producers resist banning of crippled cattle. New Scientist. 2003 December 30 [cited 2003 April 21]. Available from: URL: http://www.newscientist.com/ hottopics/bse/bse.jsp?id=ns99994521

  40. USDA. Veneman announces additional protection measures to guard against BSE. 2003 December 30 [cited 2004 April 25]. Available from: URL: http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/ 2003/12/0449.htm

  41. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance. [cited 2004 March 31]. Available from: URL: http://europa.eu.int/comm/ food/fs/bse/testing/bse_01-03_en.pdf

  42. Health & Medicine Week. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy: U.S. expands mad cow testing to cover 221,000 animals. 2004 April 05 [cited 2004 April 13]. Available from: URL: http:// www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/usda41104.cfm

  43. Ghani AC, Ferguson NM, Donnelly CA, Anderson RM. Short-term projections for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease onsets. Stat Methods Med Res. 2003;12:191–201.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Nakamura Y, Oki I, Tanihara S, Ojima T, Yanagawa H. Chronological trend of the incidence rate of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Japan. Nippon Eiseigaku Zasshi. 1999;54: 534–538. (Article in Japanese)

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Hamada C, Sadaike T, Fukushima M. Projection of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease frequency based on cadaverie dura transplantation in Japan. Neuroepidemiol. 2003;22:57–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Food Safety Commission. Measures against BSE in Japan. 2004 September 09. (Article in Japanese)

  47. Alperovitch A, Will RG. Predicting the size of the vCJD epidemic in France. C R Biol. 2002; 325:33–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Harney MS, Ghani AC, Donnelly CA, Walsh RM, Walsh M. Howley R, et al. vCJD risk in the Republic of Ireland. BMC Infect Dis. 2003;3:28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Huillard d’Aignaux JN, Cousens SN, Smith PG. Predictability of the UK variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease epidemic. Science. 2001;294:1729–1731.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Holt TA, Phillips J. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy. BMJ. 1988;296:1581–1582.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. BSE and serapie: agents for change [editorial]. Lancet. 1988; 2:607–608.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Taylor DM. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and human health. Vet Rec. 1989;125:413–415.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Dealer SF, Lacey RW. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies the threat of BSE to man. Food Micobiol. 1990;7:253–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Kimberlin RH. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy: taking stock of the issues. Nature. 1990;345:763–764.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Will RG. Is there a potential risk of transmission of BSE to the human population and how may this be assessed? In: Bradley R, Savey M, Marchant B editors. Sub-acute Spongiform Encephalopathics. Dordrecht: Kluwer Acad Pub.: 1991. p. 179–186.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Brown P. The clinical epidemiology of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the context of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. In: Bradley R, Savey M, Marchant B editors. Sub-acute Spongiform Encephalopathies. Dordrecht: Kluwer Acad Pub.; 1991. p. 195–202.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Britton TC, Al-Sarraj S, Shaw C, Campbell T, Collinge J. Sporadie Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a 16-year-old in the UK. Lancet. 1995;346:1155–1156.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Bateman D, Hilton D, Love S, Zeidler M, Beck J, Collinge J. Sporadic Creuzfeldt-Jakob disease in a 18-year-old in the UK. Lancet. 1995;346:1155–1156.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. The Japan Times. Japan confirms first vCJD death. 2005 February 05. [cited 2005 March 25]. Available from: URL: http://202.221.217.59/print/news/nn02-2005/nn20050205a1.htm

  60. Brown P. Can Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease be transmitted by transfusion? Curr Hematol. 1995;76:472–477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Brown P, Cervenakova L, McShane LM, Barber P, Rubenstein R, Drohan WN. Further studies of blood infectivity in an experimental model of transmissible encephalopathy, with an explanation of why blood components do not transmit disease in humans. Transfusion. 1999;39:1169–1178.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Brown P, Cervenakova L. Reply to a letter to the editor. Transfusion. 2000; 40: 754–755.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Fuyuno I. Japan plans blood-donor restrictions to combat vCJD. Nature. 2005;434:260.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Belay E, Schonberger L. Variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Clin Lab Med. 2002; 22:849–862.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Beghi E, Gandolfo C, Ferrarese C, Rizzuto N, et al. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutfeldt-Jakob disease: facts and uncertainties underlying the causal link between animal and human diseases. Neurol Sci. 2004;25:122–129.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health for Senior Citizens, Division of Preventive Medicine, Social Medicine Cluster, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, North 15 West 7, Kita-ku, 060-8638, Sapporo, Japan

    Gino C. Matibag, Manabu Igarashi & Hiko Tamashiro

Authors
  1. Gino C. Matibag
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Manabu Igarashi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hiko Tamashiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiko Tamashiro.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Matibag, G.C., Igarashi, M. & Tamashiro, H. BSE safety standards: An evaluation of public health policies of Japan, Europe, and USA. Environ Health Prev Med 10, 303–314 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02897706

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02897706

Key words

Search

Navigation