A report published today in the journal 'Science' indicates that Mad Cow Disease or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), may spread to more parts of the suffering animal's body than previously believed calling into question whether or not the safety precautions presently taken by authorities are enough to prevent the spread of the disease in humans.

The study examined mice who were infected with mad cow disease and it discovered that the prions, or protein-like building blocks of the disease, can be found in organs throughout the body that it is not supposed to be found in if the mouse is suffering from certain conditions which cause inflammation.

It was previously thought that the prions that cause mad cow disease were only found in the animal's brain, spleen, spinal cord and lymph tissue but the new study suggests it could be found in the liver, kidney or pancreas. The study also indicated that animals who show no outward symptoms of the disease may be infected with prions.

With the recent discovery of another case of BSE in Canada and the imminent reopening of the U.S. market to beef from Canada, this raises serious questions about our government's ability to protect the beef supply.

Humans who eat beef infected with mad cow disease develop a human strain of BSE called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. It is almost always fatal and there is no cure or even treatment for the condition.