ILuvParis

I am so confused with all the talk about foot and mouth disease, as well as Mad Cow disease. I'm going to France in early April (as are others from what I read on this board). What I want to know is whether it is safe to eat beef in France? Am I just going to have to stuff myself with foie gras? Can one of you Francophiles and/or frequent European travellers let me know, please?

AC*SE

Foot and Mouth represents no danger to humans, although humans can transmit the virus. Infected animals most certainly will not be slaughtered for meat for either human or animal consumption. You should face no risk there.

As for BSE, this is very rarely encountered, and generally in reclaimed meat (the stuff they power wash off the carcass after the good cuts have been taken off). In theory, beef on the bone may transmit, but I don't think there has been a documented case of transmission via prime rib.

Go ahead and eat.

Tango

I would watch what the locals are eating---if many are staying away from meat, so would I.

doc

Again, FWIW, with FMD, generally, yes, it is gonna' be okay!

FMD is an animal infection. Humans can be an accidental host and are rarely infected. Transmission among humans has not been confirmed thusfar, insofar as I know but I'M NO EXPERT! Citing from Acha & Szyfres ('94), FMD in humans is rare, apparently, because healthy humans are comparatively resistant to FMD virus, considering the high incidence of the disease in domestic animals in various countries and the opportunities for exposure in the field and in the laboratory. However, FMD virus has been isolated and typed in more than 40 human patients, thus leaving no doubt that FMD is a zoonosis, although of a very low incidence.

Yet other cases have been diagnosed by reproducing the disease in animals and/or by serological tests. The infection in humans may be clinically apparent or asymptomatic.

Massive exposure or any predisposing conditions that alter susceptibility of a person are believed to be necessary for infection to occur.

FWIW, FMD in humans is generally quite benign. The incubation period is from 2 to 4 days but can extend to 8 days. The course of the disease is similar to that in animals. Early symptoms are fever, headache, loss of appetite and increased heart beat. The primary vesicle appears at the site of virus penetration (skin wound or oral mucosa); the disease becomes generalized, with formation of secondary vesicles in the mouth and on the hands and feet. Not all lesions or symptoms described are found in all cases. When there is no secondary bacterial contamination of the aphthous ulcers, the patient usually recovers fully in 1-2 weeks.

The type of virus most frequently isolated from humans is type O, followed by C and rarely A. The disease has been found primarily in persons in close contact with infected animals or with the virus in the laboratory. Clinically, FMD may be confused with other vesicular diseases of man, especially infections caused by various serotypes of the Coxsackie A viruses, which produce lesions on the hands, feet, and in the mouth. Similarity between the symptomatology of FMD and that of other vesicular diseases invalidates any diagnosis made only on a clinical basis without laboratory confirmation.

Humans can be infected by contact with sick animals or infectious material through wounds or abrasions on the skin, or by drinking infected milk. Cases due to the consumption of infected meat or meat products have not been confirmed. The FMD virus has been isolated from human cases with vesicles up to 14 days after the onset of the disease, and also from the nasal passages of healthy persons up to 36 hours after exposure. On many occasions, sick persons are thought to have been responsible for outbreaks in animals. Although this possibility exists, it is not considered epidemiologically important and has not been proven conclusively (Acha & Szyfres, 1994).

So its the "Mad Cow Disease" that one should relly be concerned about healthwise, s opposed to the economic havoc of FMD!

And BTW- This info is manifestly not offered in any professional capacity, but rather only anecdotally and for purely "entertainment" value ONLY!

Generally Profs and Consultants charge high fees anyway!


Here's some additional info/links for those who may be interested:

http://www.infectionctrl-online.com/...in/index.shtml http://www.thaimed.com/library/63020.htm [url="http://osi.oracle.com:8070/promedt/promedt.searchhtml.showyear?p_year=2000&p_month=08 "]http://osi.oracle.com:8070/promedt/promedt.searchhtml.showyear?p_year=2000&p_month=08[/UR L] http://www.narita-airport.or.jp/quar...RG9906/180.TXT http://www.medscape.com/other/ProMED.../toc-0800.html http://www.veterinarymed.com/e-news/...leBreeders.htm http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/...nternet44.html http://www.oie.int/eng/press/a_990521.htm

However, regarding BSE (ie Mad Cow) it is extremely unlikely to be affected/infected and I love a good steak, especially Porterhouse on the grill, but since the incubation period (time before clinical symptoms are manifest) is up to 30 years- put simply, all bets are off!

See the Wall Street Journal's detailed article on Mad Cow. It's worth a read! (WSJ 3/12/01 pg A13) as is this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/13/health/13CONV.html

Hope this helps!

honu

Well, Mad Cow disease is causing quite a commotion in Europe these days. As rare as it is, it definitely is still present, so overall beef consumption has gone down quite a bit in the last few months. According to several articles from La Repubblica (an Italian daily), to be super safe you should avoid cuts that include the bone (e.g., ribs, ossobuco, or fiorentina, the Italian T-bone steak).

I'd skip beef while there, but then again, I never eat beef here either...

With all the great food you'll find in France, you might not even notice it if you give up beef for a short time...

ClubChamp

FWIW, while in Paris over Christmas, we ate dinner in Eiffel Tower and at the InterContinental on Rue de Castiglione. Both maitres warned my wife about BSE and sugggested lamb or chicken instead when she ordered beef dishes.

doc

"...sugggested lamb..."
http://www.mad-cow.org/00/jul00_late_news.html#mmm

If truly concerned, you can go with a "veggie" dish!

ILuvParis

Wow! Thanks everybody, and especially Doc. You went out of your way to be helpful. My reaction to the lamb would be the same!

GK

If you choose to eat red meat... eat whatever you want to.

(1) The super sceptic within me would be surprised if BSE were not truly already a global issue. That statement is bound to upset a few people, but remember it took the other EU governments quite some time to admit that they had BSE cases. Now expand that reticence to a wider scope of other beef producing nations which have now encountered increased demand for their products.

(2) Is red meat that good for you anyway ?