Mad cow disease confirmed in Scotland

ABERDEEN, Scotland – The Scottish Government has confirmed the discovery of a case of mad cow disease on a farm in Aberdeen.

The incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), as well as the official name, has been identified "as a result of strict control measures in place", said a spokesman for the authorities d & # 39; Edinburgh.

It has been described as an "isolated case" and has not entered the human food chain, which means that there is no risk to human health, said a spokesman. say of Food Standards Scotland.

BSE attacks the central nervous system of a cow and is usually fatal. Before that, the animal becomes aggressive and loses its coordination, which is why the disease has been dubbed "mad cow disease".

It has been associated with a disease causing brain wasting in humans, called Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), which is spread through the consumption of contaminated meat from affected cattle.

This is the first incidence of BSE in Britain since a massive epidemic has devastated the agricultural sector for several years.

It was detected for the first time in British cattle in 1986 and between that date and 2001, 180,000 cattle were affected. The epidemic reached its peak in January 1993, when nearly 1,000 new cases were reported each week.

A global ban on the export of British beef was imposed in March 1996 and will remain in force until the EU lifts it 10 years later.

Sheila Voas, the chief veterinarian for Scotland, said on Thursday: "Although it is still too early to say where the disease comes from, its detection proves that our surveillance system is doing its job. We are working closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to answer this question and, in the meantime, urge all farmers who have concerns to immediately seek advice from a vet. "

Fergus Ewing, Scottish secretary for rural economy, said the government had put in place a preventive ban on the movement of farm animals, which is a "standard procedure".

Ewing said the case was "further evidence that our surveillance system for detecting this type of disease is working."

READ: Highlights of Mad Cow Disease

All animals over four years old who die on a farm are systematically tested for BSE as part of the Scottish Government's comprehensive surveillance system. Although it is not directly transmitted between animals, "his cohorts, including his offspring" will now be destroyed in accordance with the requirements of the European Union, said the Scottish Government.

Ewing added: "Rest assured that the Scottish Government and its partners are ready to respond to any new confirmed case of the disease in Scotland."

Ian McWatt, director of operations at Food Standards Scotland, said there were "strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE" and that officials remained vigilant.

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