Public health aspects of human and animal spongiform encephalopathies

Abstract

This group of re-emerging human and animal diseases has recently attracted much attention, as well as concern, both in the scientific world and among the general public. In this paper the various public health aspects of these diseases are discussed. The epidemiology, both in human beings and animals, has been reviewed and the causative agents described. Diagnosis, pathology, prevention and control are addressed, showing how the risk to animals and human beings could be minimized