Question
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what assessment he has made of medical evidence on the possible transmission of BSE to humans through the milk of infected cows.
Answer
Mr. Singh: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of medical evidence on the possible transmission of BSE to humans through the milk of infected cows. [31312] Mr. Rooker: The National CJD Surveillance Unit conducts an epidemiological analysis of CJD and nvCJD cases reported to it in the United Kingdom. This includes details of the diet and occupational history of patients and has shown no evidence of any link between any form of CJD and milk from cows with BSE. It is also of note that in kuru, which is a form of CJD believed to be transmitted through cannibalistic practices in Papua New Guinea, there is no evidence of transmission from mother to child after cannibalism ceased. This includes instances where mothers showing clinical signs of the disease were suckling infants. Cows' milk from cattle with clinical BSE has been tested for the presence of infectivity by injection into the brain of mice and by feeding to mice and has not transmitted disease. As a precaution in 1988 one of the first steps taken was a prohibition on use of milk from clinical BSE cases other than for feeding her own calf.