Letter: Risk of scrapie infecting humans
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: In her letter ('Primates in peril', 14 May) Helen Grant points out correctly the potential for the spongiform encephalopathies to cross from one species to another. She also estimates correctly the incubation period to be about 20 years. However, scrapie ('sheep BSE') was around at least 200 years ago and, therefore, if man was really at risk, the first case of the human form of the disease should have occurred about 1814. But it didn't.
Yours faithfully,
I. C. SHAW
Hambleton, Lancashire
16 May
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments