Economic and Health Implications

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Economic impact

Modified picture adapted from Alberta Prion Research Institute (1).

Economic loss and health concerns due to confirmed BSE cases in cattle

The affected areas of Prion disease are not limited to the brain, but also nerves that connect the brain, spinal cord and muscles (1). Therefore, Prion disease can be transmitted between species upon ingestion of the meat of Prion-infected animal. In Canada, the 1st case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (mad cow disease) was traced from an Alberta farm in 2003 (1). The origin of this BSE case was believed to be caused by the incorporation of animal products in the cow’s feed (2). This raises public concern of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (vCJD) transmission upon ingestion of infected cow meat. The economic and social loss associated with this was phenomenal on the 7 billion per year cattle and beef industry (1). Many countries have banned beef import from Canada; the 2003 export had a total of >48% decrease compared to 2002 (2).

Impact on Health

Modified picture adapted from Alberta Prion Research Institute (1).

Public health concerns over Vaccines manufactured with bovine derived Materials

The pharmaceutical industry often uses bovine derived material, such as gelatin from bovine bones, as a medium to grow bacteria culture which would later be developed into vaccines (3). The assessment of the risk of vCJD transmission from these vaccines products were done by the Center for biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee and the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (3). Although there is no evidence that these vaccine products would lead to vCJD in humans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have made recommendations on the production and usage of vaccines. FDA has made the request to manufacturers to replace bovine derived material from countries with BSE and CJD cases with those without BSE and CJD cases (3). The public is recommended to continue to obtain licensed vaccinations (3).

References

(1) Alberta Prion Research Institute. [Internet] Why Prion Research?(Canada) [date unknown]- [cited 2007 Mar12] Available from: http://www.Prioninstitute.ca/basics.aspx?section=4&header=Prions3

(2) Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California [data base on the Internet]. Carter CA et al: Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics (US) Market Effects of Searching for Mad Cows. Sept/Oct 2004 - [cited 2007 Mar 12] Available from: http://www.agecon.ucdavis.edu/outreach/update_articles/v8n1_3.pdf

(3) Prevention News Update Database [Internet]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US), Public Health Service Recommendations for the Use of Vaccines Manufactured with Bovine-Derived Materials. 2000 Dec - [cited 2007 Mar 12]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4950a4.htm