Mad Cow Disease Central

Mad Cow Disease has hit the news headlines across the world. The story has moved from the initial outbreaks in the UK, to the banning of the export of British beef to other EC member countries, to prion tests on cows in France and Germany producing positive results.

This section of the site is dedicated to the examination of BSE and alleged links to CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease) in humans and ulitimately it's potential impact to insurers. We think it is important to understand the environment in which claims may arise in order to underwrite for their potential.

This section contains 3 documents, written at various stages of the crisis. The first from 1994, at the height of the problem looks at the issue afresh, asking
1. What is "mad cow disease" and what causes it?
2. How is the disease spread and where is it found?
3. How does it affect ranchers, farmers, dairymen, slaughterhouses, meat suppliers and consumers?
4. What is its significance outside the EC, especially in the US?
5. What import does it have for pharmaceutical companies?

The second from 1996, revisits the assumptions of the first document and tracks the development of the crisis in the UK.

The third document from 2001, looks at how the crisis played itself out and how it's tail may still impact insurers.

Please click on the titles to launch the documents.

Document 1: Mad Cow Disease

Document 2: Mad Cows Revisited

Document 3: 21st Century Underwriting Isues for Mad Cow Disease