Mad cow disease is found for the first time in the United Kingdom in 1986. A British outbreak affected approximately 180,000 cattle and devastated farming communities from 1986 to 2001. The disease was named after the brain disorder it caused in animals: "mad cow" disease. The origin of mad cow disease goes back years before it was recognized as such. In 1967, there were reports of a new disease in cows in Britain called "scrapie." This disease was similar to human Alzheimer's disease in that it involved the loss of memory and other mental abilities. Scientists believe that scrapie came from sheep that had been infected with a parasite called "mulga," which lives in the intestines of sheep and goats. When it infects cows, mulga causes them to act strangely and eventually die. In addition to humans and cows, scrapie can also be found in mice, rats, and hamsters that have been infected with the parasite. It is not known how the disease is transmitted from animal to animal, but it seems likely that it is through the consumption of contaminated meat and dairy products. Although mad cow disease has never been reported in sheep, it is thought to come from cows that have eaten contaminated feed or pastures.