Possible case of BSE detected on Ireland's dairy farm

Ireland said on Thursday a suspected case of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been identified on a dairy farm in the east coast county of Louth.

BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle that causes a spongy degeneration in the brain and spinal cord.

In a statement, Ireland's Department of Agriculture said the case was identified through the department's ongoing surveillance system on fallen animals (animals that die on farms).

But the department said the animal was not presented for slaughter and did not enter the food chain.

"Confirmatory tests are being undertaken and results will be available in approximately one week. If confirmed, this will be the first BSE case found in Ireland since 2013," it said.

The department said it is now undertaking a full investigation into all relevant factors in this case, including a full epidemiological examination.

It is also informing the relevant national and international reference organizations and the European Commission, and will be liaising with trading partners, according to the department.

If, as expected, the tests confirm this is to be a classical case of BSE, this may impact on Ireland's recently awarded "negligible risk status" from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

In this case, Ireland will revert to "controlled risk status" which applied up to last week and which facilitated trade to a wide range of international markets. It will also result in the continuation of the existing range of controls for a further number of years. Endit