Can humans get mad cow disease?

Yes, humans can get mad cow disease, which is also known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). vCJD is a rare, degenerative brain disorder that is caused by an abnormal form of a protein called a prion. Prions are found in the brain and other tissues of cows and other animals that are infected with mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

vCJD is transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated beef products, particularly products that contain brain or spinal cord tissue. The risk of infection is very low, and most cases of vCJD have occurred in people who lived in the United Kingdom during the 1980s and 1990s, when there was an outbreak of BSE in cattle.

Symptoms of vCJD typically develop over a period of weeks or months and can include:

* Memory loss

* Confusion

* Difficulty with coordination

* Muscle weakness

* Vision problems

* Psychiatric symptoms, such as depression or anxiety

vCJD is a fatal disease, and there is no known cure. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and providing supportive care.