Mad cow disease discovered on British farm sparks panic | United Kingdom | News
A case of atypical BSE – better known as mad cow disease – has been discovered on a British farm.
Following the detection of a singular incident of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Dumfries and Galloway in the south of Scotland, authorities have taken action, imposing travel restrictions as a precautionary measure in the farm.
Food Standards Scotland assured that this “isolated case” posed no risk to public health.
The government has imposed travel restrictions on premises linked to the disaster cow, targeting animals in contact with it.
An ongoing investigation aims to identify the origin of the illness, which the Scottish Government says is part of “standard procedure”. Strict containment measures have also been put in place.
Scottish government officials said the case was discovered through routine but thorough BSE surveillance efforts. The country’s chief veterinarian, Sheila Voas, has assured the public that this atypical form of BSE is not spread and is not linked to contaminated food.
Atypical BSE appears “spontaneously” and is unrelated to the human form of the disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).
Affected livestock owners are now coordinating with authorities to chart a path forward, reports the mirror.
Meanwhile, the Animal, Plant and Sanitation Agency is investigating the origins of the outbreak. He isolates the herd and plans to cull the infected cow’s immediate family, including its offspring.
Scottish Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: “Following the confirmation of an atypical case of BSE in Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Government and other agencies have taken swift and strong action to protect the agricultural sector. The fact that we identified this isolated case so quickly is proof that our surveillance system for detecting this type of disease is working effectively.
“I would like to thank the animal owner for their diligence. Their decisive action allowed us to quickly identify and isolate the case, minimizing its impact on the entire industry.”
Chief Veterinarian Sheila Voas said: “The rapid detection of this case is proof that our surveillance system is doing its job. »
“We are working closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency and other partners to identify the origin of the disease. I would like to reassure farmers and the public that this is a isolated case and an atypical strain of BSE which is not transmissible and not linked to contaminated food. If farmers are concerned, I invite them to consult a veterinarian.
Ian McWatt, deputy chief executive of Food Standards Scotland, said: “Strict controls are in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE. Consumers can be reassured that important safeguards remain in place and Food Standards Scotland’s official veterinarians and meat hygiene inspectors working in abattoirs will continue to ensure that consumer safety remains a priority.
“We will currently continue to work closely with the Scottish Government, other agencies and industry.”
The UK witnessed the slaughter of millions of cattle during the BSE crisis in the 1990s. Following the outbreak, strict measures were put in place to protect consumers after linked BSE to the deadly human brain disease CJD.
Recently, a case of classic BSE was identified on a farm in Ayrshire in May, making it the latest case in Scotland. The previous incident in the UK was recorded in Somerset in September 2021. Additionally, the most recent case of atypical BSE, which presents differently to classic BSE, was reported in Cornwall in March 2023, in following a previous case in 2015.
