Bovine spongiform encephalopathy causes a fatal neurological disease in cattle with significant welfare and public health implications. Ongoing surveillance maintains early detection.
BSE causes progressive and severe neurological disease with significant welfare implications for affected cattle. The prion disease destroys brain tissue over months before clinical signs appear, after which rapid deterioration causes ataxia, hypersensitivity, and aggression. Cattle develop fear responses to normal stimuli. Prompt slaughter of clinical suspects is required by law and is the appropriate welfare response. Ongoing surveillance maintains the detection capacity to identify any recurrence of classical or atypical BSE in UK cattle.