Tests on Ireland's BSE cow confirm isolated case

Final test results on the recent suspected case of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, found in a cow on a dairy farm, have confirmed that it was an isolated case in a single animal, according to the Irish Department of Agriculture on Thursday.

In a statement, the department said it had identified all animals potentially exposed to the BSE agent that caused the incident, including those born and reared on the farm one year either side of the birth date of the positive animal, and her progeny.

"These have been slaughtered, excluded from the food and feed chains, and tested," it said.

The epidemiological investigation has confirmed that all 63 cohort animals and four progeny slaughtered and disposed tested negative for BSE, it added.

BSE is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle that causes a spongy degeneration in the brain and spinal cord.

"The investigation has not identified anything to distinguish this case from the other cases of classical BSE that have been seen in Ireland or elsewhere," it said.

A diminishing number of such cases have been identified in Ireland and in other countries over the years, according to the department. Endit