Mad cow illness: Case of BSE confirmed on Essex farm | EUROtoday

A single case of BSE – generally often known as mad cow illness – has been confirmed on a farm in Essex, officers have stated.

The case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was uncovered after the animal confirmed some signs, and was humanely culled and examined for the illness, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) stated.

The authorities has stated there was no danger to public well being or meals security because the cow was not destined to enter the meals chain.

Atypical BSE is a non-contagious illness in cows which is completely different from “classical” BSE, which is linked to contaminated feed.

It is a naturally occurring and non-contagious mind illness and happens spontaneously, however hardly ever, in cattle, officers stated.

Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss stated: “A single case of atypical BSE has been confirmed on a farm in Essex. The animal died on farm and was tested as part of our strict routine controls and surveillance regime.

“Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE and is a spontaneously and sporadically occurring, non-contagious illness which is believed to happen at a really low degree in all cattle populations.

“This is proof that our surveillance system for detecting and containing this type of disease is working.”

Dr James Cooper, deputy director of food policy at the Food Standards Agency said: “There is no food safety risk.

“There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity.

“Consumers can be reassured that these important protection measures remain in place and that Food Standards Agency official veterinarians and meat hygiene inspectors working in all abattoirs in England will continue to ensure that the safety of consumers remains the top priority.”

In December final yr, a case of mad cow illness was confirmed on a farm in Scotland.

It follows the disaster of 1986 when 180,000 cattle have been contaminated and 4.4 million slaughtered in an effort to eradicate it.