Luckily this was not linked back to cattle. If even one domestic cow were to develop the disease, even spontaneously, which is known to develop in nature, then the pathogen could quickly spread throughout the country. In order to take precautionary measures against the disease, the government established a law forbidding the use of cattle parts as feed, but still permits their use as fertilizer. Some American and health experts believe that the US is safe from this disease because British beef exports to America have been banned since 1980 in order to protect US sheep from infection. Also, American farmers do not use sheep to supplement cattle feed.
Questions still remain as to the spread of mad cow disease.
Just as important is the threat BSE holds to America. Some things, however, are for certain.