Still, several governments including the United States banned the import of beef products from Britain and other European nations. They also changed the laws for feeding cattle so that no feed from slaughtered cattle would be given to cows. So far mad cow disease has not been found in the United States. Not only have they lost their livestock, some are afraid to travel for fear that they may spread the disease. With their animals destroyed, some farmers say they will have to stop farming altogether.
American farmers are worried about livestock diseases crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
An outbreak in the United States could hurt the meat and milk industries, put many farms out of business, and seriously threaten the U.S. economy. They hoped to protect U.S. livestock from getting the disease. The government also banned the import of farm equipment from those nations. In addition, people who come to the United States from Europe and other high-risk areas must disinfect their shoes in a cleaning solution to kill the germs before they enter the country. Some farms and zoos are not taking any chances.