Mad cow in the blood supply
The week's news at a glance.
London
Thousands of British citizens have been banned from giving blood because of fears of transmitting mad cow disease. Health Secretary John Reid said this week that a man who died of the human variant, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, might have contracted it from a transfusion. Now, anyone who has had a blood transfusion since 1980 may not give blood. Mad cow disease, which causes a fatal degeneration of the brain, can be passed to humans through the eating of contaminated beef, particularly organ meats. At least 139 people have died of the illness in Britain since it emerged there nine years ago.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
July 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include an extrajudicial detainment camp, 'alligator Alcatraz', and tax cuts for billionaires.
-
5 explosively funny cartoons about the 4th of July
Cartoons Artists take on liberty and justice for all, a terrifying firework, and more
-
Jeff in Venice: a "triumph of tackiness"?
In the Spotlight Locals protest as Bezos uses the city as a 'private amusement park' for his wedding celebrations