>        Mad whatever disease is a crock. If people buy this one then
>pharmaceutical companies can produce "vaccines" for wild animals and have a
>new entry into needlessly drugging for the sake of ever increasing their
>profits.


Dave,

Due to the nature of the disease (it isn't caused by germs or parasites of
any kind, prions aren't even alive) it is ~impossible~ to create a vaccine
for Mad Cow Disease or Chronic Wasting Disease.  The pharm companies avoid
discussion of this sort of disease, because they can't do anything about it,
hence there is no profit in it (and I bet the elk and mule deer don't have
even a lousy HMO to pay for their care, if treatment WERE possible...)

I read a report on a medical board today (where they track trends of
diseases and parasites worldwide)that said the disease in elks and deer
~operates the same way~ as mad cow disease, but is NOT related to it, and
absolutely did not come from it, and has somewhat different symptomatology.

There may be deep dark global conspiracies lurking in the bushes sometimes,
but not in this case.

laurie (Mother Mastiff)  subsiding back into lurk mode

(P.S., I work at Glaxo, and researching animal health is my main interest
besides
enjoying my own personal animals and birds...)