Next Steps

Prevention

You can make choices to lower your risk for contracting vCJD from contaminated beef:

• Eat poultry and fish, or choose a vegetarian diet. 
  
  
• Avoid beef products that may contain bits of spinal cord or brain tissue. These include ground beef, sausage, and hot dogs. Solid pieces of muscle meat are less likely to be contaminated. Bone-in cuts such as a T-bone steak and intestine are more risky.
  
  
• If traveling to countries where BSE has been detected, such as the United Kingdom, Europe, Portugal, and Spain, don’t eat beef. Avoid having a blood transfusion overseas.
  
  
• Milk and milk products are not thought to be affected or a means of transmittal.