We have to remain vigilant so we can act at the first sign of an emerging disease
IN October 1987, The Sunday Telegraph revealed that a “mystery brain disease” was killing the UK’s dairy cows. As more cases emerged, farmers noted how affected animals were apprehensive and hypersensitive to touch or sound. They were uncoordinated and would kick manically, even though their legs were weak and they had difficulty getting up.
The numbers of animals behaving this way rose inexorably. Within a year or two a new phrase had entered the English language. Mad cow disease gave a name to…
