[alexander_busek]

All that is needed to spread an epidemic of botulism, for example, [...] is to hang around a truck stop for a few hours until a semi pulling a load of cattle on its way to market in a nearby town drives in. Wait until the driver leaves his load unattended, then scrub a previously infected rag around the railings and the mouths of a few of the cattle, and let nature do the rest.

This article is filled with scientific inaccuracies and misleading statements.

Without getting too technical, let me point out that botulism cannot be spread as described here.

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/botulism/index.asp

The pathogenic bacteria Clostidium botulinum is an anaerob, which means that it connot thrive in an oxygen-laden environment. (However, its spores are a natural component of the soil, where it can survive in a dormant state.) The neurotoxin, botulin, which the organism produces, is what kills you. It cannot be used to "infect" cattle, etc. which then might spread it to consumers. As such, it is not infectious.

Regards,

[norwaypinesavage]

"botulism cannot be spread as described here."

Nor can BSE (Mad Cow Disease). The incubation time in humans can be decades, and there is no way the pathogens could make the traverse described.