The Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) advising the EC has recently published opinion on the origin and transmission routes for BSE. They confirm the standing scientific consensus hypotheses that a prion of unknown origin is the agent for transmitting the disease; mainly via feed and cross-contamination of feed, and to a lesser extent via maternal transmission.
There is a government funded vCJD compensation scheme.
If cases become attributable to eating meat from animals after 2000, there may be pressure for the liability of food producers to be reviewed, opening the possibility of commercial insurance involvement. The spread of BSE to sheep (if possible), should be monitored.
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