Mad Cow Disease

[YvonneH]

Saw on Sky News last night that a person has been diagnosed with Mad Cow Disease.
The say he is Mr Frank Burton, former Chief Financial Officer of the Sydney Swans.

[neilfws]

Saw on Sky News last night that a person has been diagnosed with Mad Cow Disease.
The say he is Mr Frank Burton, former Chief Financial Officer of the Sydney Swans.

Also reported in the SMH and at ABC.

Former Sydney Swans official diagnosed with rare 'one-in-a-million' brain condition - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Sydney man diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Seems he has the sporadic form of CJD, which is a similar disease to "mad cow" but not caused by eating prion-tainted meat. He is very unfortunate, it's a very rare condition and it progresses quickly.

[stevoswan]

It's quite tragic all this. Frank Burton was at the Swans during the Mike Willesee era, and in a bizarre twist, Mike Willesee's own wife died from the same disease eight years ago. Really weird......and sad.

[stevoswan]

Correction, nine years ago.

[AnnieH]

It's quite tragic all this. Frank Burton was at the Swans during the Mike Willesee era, and in a bizarre twist, Mike Willesee's own wife died from the same disease eight years ago. Really weird......and sad.

Wow.
So rare a condition and to have two people "known" to each other die of it is just freaky.