`Mad Cow' Site Offers the Facts

FDA Consumer, July, 2001 by John Henkel

It was first diagnosed in Great Britain in 1986, but in recent months, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or "mad cow disease," has seen its share of headlines as the disease has shown up in numerous European countries. What are the facts about this destructive cattle disorder that as yet is unknown to exist in the United States? What is being done to keep the disease out of this country? A recently remodeled FDA Web site at www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/ bse.html explains the latest about BSE. The site acts as a portal to FDA information, as well as to materials from other federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There's background for travelers, questions and answers about human vaccines made from bovine materials, explanations about the human form of BSE, and information for industry and veterinarians. The site also links to a special page containing slides and transcripts from an informative April 16 FDA briefing on BSE for consumers.

John Henkel is a member of FDA's website management staff.