Mad cow disease rising in U.K.

7/18/2000- British government scientists with the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) announced that the incidence of the deadly human form of mad cow disease in Britain was increasing by a "statistically significant" 20 to 30% a year, according to a July 18 Reuters report. However, the scientists said that it was too early to assess the long-term trend on variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD). The committee said in a statement late Monday that, "There are now 76 definite and probable cases, including seven probables still alive. The number of cases reported now indicated a statistically significant rising trend of about 20% to 30% per annum." Last month the government launched an urgent inquiry into a cluster of CJD deaths around the small village of Queniborough in the central English county of Leicestershire. Three of the four victims died within weeks of each other and all lived within a close radius. SEAC said the team investigating the Leicestershire deaths was likely to report within the next few months and could well cast new light on the transmission of the disease.