animal diseases, particularly unknowns like prions, have a nasty nasty habit of jumping into humans. In fact, a large number of the major diseases plaguing the world today are zoonotic diseases, and I believe ALL of the major emerging human diseases are zoonotic. Which is why the government is constantly trying to con us vets into working for them for research.
As for prions, I like to shuffle how dangerous they are away into the back of my mind where I can draw on the knowledge if necessary, but don't have to constantly live my life in fear that there might be brain goo on some animal that happens to kill me with horrible neurological disease. I'm exaggerating a bit...but am I? 

I mean, my pathologist has discovered CJD in a brain that wasn't suspected of having it. We're going to be exposed at some point in our careers, if we work with any neurological tissue. Just have to hope you've taken enough precautions, and are lucky enough.
My love for pathology exceeds my fear of CJD, considering acquired CJD usually kills you in your fifties or sixties. It's the spontaneous that can come upon you earlier.
Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position. - Bill Maher
For the second time, another disease has been declared "eradicated"
- 16/08/2011 11:11:20 PM
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Something scary about "animal" diseases-
- 16/08/2011 11:51:45 PM
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I was reading about prions at Cracked.com earlier.
- 17/08/2011 01:51:29 AM
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don't be ridiculous, you don't need to encounter ANY animal
- 17/08/2011 02:02:04 AM
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Wiki is vague on this.
- 17/08/2011 07:52:09 AM
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yah, prions are a scary scary thing.
- 17/08/2011 01:58:53 AM
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Well, my paranoia is grounded.
- 17/08/2011 04:01:02 PM
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- 17/08/2011 04:01:02 PM
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Re: Something scary about "animal" diseases-
- 17/08/2011 04:45:27 AM
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Sorry.
- 17/08/2011 03:58:39 PM
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Sorry.
- 17/08/2011 03:58:39 PM
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Re:
Sorry.
- 17/08/2011 09:46:59 PM
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Sorry.
- 17/08/2011 09:46:59 PM
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Interesting.
- 18/08/2011 08:30:39 PM
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lol you know what's funny?
- 18/08/2011 10:21:53 PM
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If Rinderpest = Foot & Mouth, it most certainly wasn't gone from the First World years ago.
- 17/08/2011 05:51:41 PM
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no, that's not what I meant
- 17/08/2011 06:30:28 PM
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In a way, I'm glad I never heard of it, and hope I don't have to deal with it! *NM*
- 17/08/2011 06:36:28 PM
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