: {snip}

: Er, Duncan, you're making flat-out assertions, here, but it's
: unclear whether your assertions are founded on more than
: your own thinking about what seems (to you) "only
: logical" and what doesn't, leaving me with these
: questions: - How conclusively has it been shown that
: "Mad Cow" and CJD or nvCJD are identical?

Again, I strongly suggest reading "Deadly Feasts", plus you should avail yourself of the wealth of data on Mad Cow Disease, prions, CJD etc. You may also want to consider the difference between alzheimers and vCJD - if you can find any. (Alheimers is the 4th largest 'cause' of death for the elderly in the USA).

I wish I had the time to impress upon you all the seriousness of this particular disease. One of my more informed researchers on this topic yesterday emailed me with updates from around the world. He literally concluded with speculation that this could even be an alien 'disease'. Whatever the transmissible element is, it can without hundreds of degrees (Celsius) heat, microwave, x-rays, and sub-zero extremes. It's contagiousness reaches into the realms of the metaphysical, a candidate for the X-Files.

I hope I have at least stimulate your appetite to dig into this one further. I am on a deadline, with two trade fairs to go to. I shouldn't even be writing this.

Some researchers in this subject have reported that many high level meetings of scientists on this subject have to sign secrecy and non-disclosure agreements, far more severe than mere confidentiality agreements that exist in the commercial sector.
They also speculate that the Foot and Mouth Disease beat-up is a coverup to hide the seriousness of Mad Cow disease.

best regards

Duncan