But many French people, especially farmers, blame infected cattle feed from Britain for introducing BSE to France in the mid-1990s. Although unproved, the allegation has fuelled animosity against Britain's beef industry. The Company Terms French challenge Relatives of two French victims of the human form of mad cow disease took Britain to court today for causing the infection. The French legal action comes as concern mounts over the growing number of cases of BSE in French cattle, and the possible threat of CJD in humans. Like BSE, first diagnosed in 1986, it is a poorly understood condition that attacks the brain, leaving it full of holes like a bath sponge.
Victims display symptoms of dementia, becoming unsteady and confused and losing their memory.
As the brain degenerates, they decline to a state where they cannot walk, talk or look after themselves. There is no known cure. Local vet called to farm in Kent to examine a cow behaving oddly. Later judged to have been the first case of BSE in Britain. Nov 1986 First official diagnosis of BSE, the neurodegenerative condition characterised by holes in the brain.