It has been confirmed that two people have died in Spain from the human form of Mad Cow Disease. Health officials in Castilla-Leon said one died of Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (CJD) about three weeks ago, the other around New Year. The only other victim of the disease died in Madrid in 2005.

It is thought the latest victims probably contracted CJD at least eight years ago. Scientists fear infection can take up to 20 years to become active. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) first emerged in Britain in the 1980s. It is thought it may be transmitted through meat and bone meal fed to cattle.

The European Union banned the use of such products in animal feed in 2001 to prevent the spread of Mad Cow Disease and CJD.