Ongoing Participation with On Line Postings and Discussion Forum - Assignment Example

Ongoing Participation with On Line Postings and Discussion Forum Unit Introduction Problems such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), Avian Bird Flu and E coli infections resulting from contaminated food, can be regarded as consequences of the global food system. This is because when a human being eats food contaminated or with above disease, they get infected with BSE, Avian Bird Flu and Ecoli virus. It becomes a global food system problem because the animal meat can reach million of people and as a result, infect as many people as possible (Lopez, 2005).

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is a neurodegenerative, transmissible brains disease for cattle’s. This disease has an incubation period of four to five years, but is ultimately fatal for cattle within weeks. According to, Bovine spongiform encephalopathy Fact Sheet (1999), the disease is passed on to a human being when a supply of cattle feed is prepared from the feed that has already been contaminated from the infected tissues or agent, such as spinal cord or the brain. This disease is said to affect the spinal cord and the brain of cattle.

Additionally, the agent is stable to freezing, heating and drying at normal cooking temperatures even those used for sterilization and pasteurization. Burger (1999) claims that, the agent of BSE, is referred to as prion which is a self-replicating protein and carries information genetically, and the ability of the agent is explained by the virus. Therefore, BSE outbreak is caused by contaminated food, and can be regarded as one of the consequence of the global food system. This is because when a human being eats food contaminated with BSE virus, his brain and spinal cord also becomes affected just as the cattle would.

Additionally, it becomes the consequences of global food system because the beef derived from bovine tissues can reach as many people as possible and as a result, affect a good number of them. Avian Bird Flu is also known as influenza that is caused by viruses got from birds. Different viruses of influenza adapted from birds cause this disease. Additionally, virus adapted to both birds and human are responsible for influenza pandemic, but more genes are adapted from a bird. This disease is regarded as consequences of global food system because it is said to be spreading throughout the world as a result of eating food contaminated with the virus (Rezza, 2011).

According to, World Health Organization (2009), E coli infections, are caused by a deadly bacterium. E coli infections were first discovered in Northern Germany and have continued to spread around the world. AFP (2011), explains that it becomes a consequence of global food system when human beings come into contact with a person infected from the disease as well as not heeding to the warning of preparing and washing vegetables carefully as well as avoiding raw cucumber, lettuce and tomatoes.

The toxin of the Ecoli affects the gut of a human being by releasing a toxin called Shiga into his intestines. The blood then absorbs the toxin and as a result, attacks the small blood vessels and the kidney, which causes a condition called Uraemic Haemolytic syndrome. It damages the blood vessels that supply the gut as well as causes blood diarrhea.Through the research, we learn that Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), Avian Bird Flu and the outbreak of E coli infections caused by contaminated food, can be regarded as consequences of the global food system.

This is because, the food or meat is distributed to many individuals globally and as a result affects each other. However, some of the key processes to decrease the current and potential risks to human from animal and birds are to first of all make sure one purchases meat that has been inspected by a doctor as well as ensure that we wash our vegetables thoroughly before eating or preparing them. To add to this, we should avoid raw cucumber and lettuces (Lopez, 2005).ReferencesAFP, (2011), Germany confirms source of Ecoli outbreak, Audrey Kauffmann 11 June, viewed 12th August 2011, at http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g6NRcjMSGczScJJLVq903lBErTxA?docId=CNG.25b78f54a30abed76c9d803100d4.

c1Bovine spongiform encephalopathy Fact Sheet (1999), Retrieved from:http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs113/en/Burger.E (1999), Health risks: the challenge of informing the public. Washington: Media InstituteLopez (2005), Comparative Quantification of Health Risks: Global and Regional. Newyork: Routledge.Rezza, G (2011) ‘Avian influenza: a human pandemic threat?’, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, vol. 58, pp. 807-808. WHO 2011, ‘Fact sheet: ‘Avian Influenza (bird flu)’, viewed 12th August 2011, at: .

World Health Organization (2009), Global health Risks: Mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks. Geneva, World Health Organization.