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Focuses on research into prion disease in the United States. Research conducted by Paul Brown, formerly of the National Institutes of Health, during the 1970s into prion diseases in animals; Statistics related to the amount of money spent on research into prion diseases, including mad cow, scapie in sheep, and the human Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; Amount of money spent on beef annually by consumers in the U.S.; Excerpts of a report issued by the Institute of Medicine, critical of the paucity of funding and research into prion diseases; Amount of money transferred by the U.S. government to the Agriculture Department so it can perform more tests; History of prion research.

Examines the consequences of the first United States case of mad-cow disease discovered at a meat plant in Moses Lake (Wash.). Screening measures in place designed to detect bovine spongiform encephalopathy; View of author that questions and concerns have been raised about the economic health of rural America and the safety of American beef; Comments from William D. Hueston, head of the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety at the University of Minnesota, regarding the probability that more than one cow has been exposed to mad-cow disease; Cost increase to the industry if it is forced to inspect every slaughtered cow; How the Holstein cow in Moses Lake was found to have mad-cow, suggesting the testing procedures are haphazard.

The article reports on the impact of the decision of South Korea to honor only part of a pledge to resume beef imports from the U.S. on the latter's trade policy in June 2008. Thousands of protesters held demonstrations to oppose the resumption of trade on June 8. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak stated that his country could start importing beef that does not come from older cattle, which are considered more susceptible to bovine spongiform encephalopathy or mad-cow disease. People who eat contaminated beef can contract Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Examines the impact of mad-cow disease in Great Britain since the disease first appeared in 1996. Number of Britons who have died due to variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (vCJD), a brain-wasting malady linked to the consumption of contaminated beef; Yearly statistics related vCJD deaths in Great Britain, indicating that the deaths are declining, according the U.K. Department of Health; Estimated number of vCJD cases in the next 75 years, according to researchers at London's Imperial college; Comments from Christl Donnelly, an epidemiologist at Imperial and one of the authors of a study published in the online journal, "BMC Infectious Diseases," regarding the inflated predictions of vCJD cases; Reasons for caution, focusing on the unknown incubation period of the disease.

Focuses on incidence of new-variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in Queniborough, England. Deaths which resulted from disease; View of doctors that bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad-cow disease, had been a cause of CJD; View that rogue proteins called prions were responsible for destroying brain matter; Case of Pamela Beyless, who died of disease.

Reports on contingency plans for containing an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, in the United States. Description of the plans, which were made by the U.S. Agriculture Department and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Description of the disease, which can cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.

Offers questions and answers related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease. Ways the disease could be transferred to the United States; Symptoms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, which is the human version of mad cow disease; Efforts being taken by the U.S. government to ensure beef safety.

Looks at the epidemic of `mad-cow disease' in Great Britain in 1996, believed to have resulted in the death of at least 10 humans, which raises the discussion of the link between bovine spongiform encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in humans. How Harash Narang had offered the British government a new test for mad-cow disease in 1989, but the Brits refused his offer; Concern over methods in the beef industry; The question of safety surrounding English beef.

Discusses the incidence of mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Great Britain. Risk of contracting Creutzfeldt-Jakob according to World Health Organization's Lindsay Martinez; Lack of knowledge about both diseases; Number of British people that can be afflicted with both diseases each year. INSET: More questions than answers..