Mad cow disease kills two in Spain

updated 11:29 a.m. ET April 7, 2008

MADRID - Two people have died in Spain from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, the human form of mad cow disease, the health department at the regional Castilla-Leon government said on Monday.

The health department said these were not the first vCJD deaths in Spain but did not give details. Spanish national radio said the only previous case of a death from vCJD was in Madrid, in 2005.

A health department spokesman in the northwestern region said one person died of vCJD 15-20 days ago, and one in late December or early January.

Mad cow disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, first emerged in Britain in the 1980s and has been found in herds in several European and other countries. Scientists believe it is transmitted through infected meat and bone meal fed to cattle and may cause vCJD in humans.

Don't miss this on msnbc.com Health Love and loss bind her to ‘other mother’ Sex is just one more chore on her to-do list The mystery of medications linked to suicide The Fit List: Get buff for the beach Free pens and pizza comes at a high cost for docs

Print this Email this Blog this  IM this

MORE FROM INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Infectious diseases Section Front

No infectious outbreak on quarantined train More hepatitis cases may trace to Vegas clinic Death toll from child virus reaches 30 in China China wants reports of all kids with fatal virus Risk of bird flu pandemic growing, officials say 12,000 children in China now have deadly virus Who should doctors let die in a pandemic? 286,000 pounds of meat, poultry recalled Chronic Lyme disease? Docs may change stance A bad germ gets worse Infectious diseases Section Front   Add Infectious diseases headlines to your news reader: