Mad Cow Case Found in California, Says USDA

Yesterday, the US Department of Agriculture held a press conference to announce the discovery of the fourth case of mad cow disease found domestically since 2003. The afflicted cow was found at a facility in Hanford, CA, near Fresno, during a random inspection, but according to The Huffington Post, the cow’s farm of origin has not yet been determined. The USDA stated during the conference that the cow’s body was disposed of and that meat and dairy supplies will not be affected. Also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, mad cow disease is potentially fatal for humans and can sometimes take up to 15 years to show symptoms. The disease is typically spread from animal to animal through the feeding of contaminated meat to other cows, who are by nature accustomed to plant-based diets.