Volume 3: The Early Years, 1986-88
3. Epidemiology
Introduction

3.1 In this chapter we follow the course of the investigation into the cause of BSE carried out by the CVL Epidemiology Department. We see how Mr Wilesmith, its head, identified feed as the probable source of BSE infection. More particularly, he identified meat and bone meal (MBM) derived from rendering offal from scrapie-infected sheep as the likely infectious ingredient in the feed.

3.2 In the latter part of the chapter we discuss the conclusions reached by Mr Wilesmith as to why BSE emerged when it did, and explain why, with the benefit of hindsight, we have formed the view that these conclusions were erroneous.