Further tests are needed examining sheep developing ‘mad cow disease’ to provide data on how the disease can jump species, maybe even to humans, a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) panel has concluded.
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EFSA’s Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards has said “there is no intrinsic species barrier for sheep BSE transmission to humans”. However, because of lack of data, it “cannot quantify a species barrier effect”. A panel assessment said more detailed checks of sheep TSE screening were needed “to improve the accuracy of the BSE in sheep prevalence estimates.” And more surveillance and analysis of all animal TSEs, “are recommended to evaluate their implications for human health”.
