AN investigation is
underway into how a cow in Donegal contracted BSE
despite tight measures to prevent the disease.
The case was discovered through the Department's
active surveillance programme in a five-year old
suckler cow in west Donegal.
The infected animal was born six years after
controls were introduced to eradicate mad cow
disease, which can lead to variant CJD in humans.
Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan said she hoped
the case was a one-off and hoped the probe would
identify how the cow became infected so long after
the preventative measures came into force.
The Donegal case brings the national total for the
year so far to 17 cases compared to 36 cases for the
equivalent period in 2006.
"The range of controls in place to protect consumers
and to eradicate the disease continues to be
rigorously enforced. In particular it should be
noted that specified risk material is removed from
all cattle slaughtered," the Department states. |
