Confirmed case of mad-cow disease in Texas involved person who traveled extensively

AUSTIN, Texas, June 5 (UPI) -- Health officials in Texas said Thursday tests confirmed a diagnosis of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease -- mad-cow disease -- in a patient who recently died.

"There are no Texas public health concerns or threats associated with this case," the Texas Department of State Health Services, said in a statement.

Variant CJD is believed to be caused by consumption of products from cows with the disease bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE.

Since 1996, more than 220 variant CJD patients have been reported, with most in Britain with 177 cases and France with 27 cases. This case is the fourth to be reported in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

"In each of the three previous (U.S.) cases, infection likely occurred outside the United States, including Britain and Saudi Arabia," the CDC said.

"The history of this fourth patient, including extensive travel to Europe and the Middle East, supports the likelihood that infection occurred outside the United States."

The CDC assisted the Texas Department of State Health Services investigation and will continue to assist to determine the source of the infection.