CJD & BSE

The relation CJD has to the epidemic in Europe regarding a disease named Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is crucial. BSE caused the deaths of nearly 200,000 cattle, and a new variant of the disease emerged. Despite the new scientific understanding of both diseases, a great deal of misinformation has been spread, and the fear of Mad Cow Disease has permeated the culture of Europe and many other countries. There is a difference between these two neurological degenerative disorders - BSE related vCJD and CJD - but this distinction is rarely clear to those without medical training; the relative lack of information, combined with its grim diagnosis has led many citizens and governments to a skewed perception of what the disease truly is.