UK identifies atypical case of ‘mad cow’ disease

LONDON: A single case of BSE, known as mad cow disease, has been identified on an Essex farm.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed a case of atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) today.

According to the agency, the animal showed some clinical signs and was “humanely culled on farm and tested” as part of a national routine surveillance programme.

Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: “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 disease which is believed to occur at a very low level in all cattle populations. This is proof that our surveillance system for detecting and containing this type of disease is working.”

The agency confirmed there is no risk to public health or food safety due to this case, and the animal “was not destined to enter the food chain”.

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The non-contagious disease in cattle is naturally and spontaneously occurring.

Dr James Cooper, deputy director of Food Policy at the Food Standards Agency, said: “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.”

Poses no risk

This latest case was found to be “atypical BSE” and is not contagious and poses no risk to other animals or the food chain, officials said.

This version of the disease occurs naturally and spontaneously on occasion and is not linked to contaminated feed, as opposed to the other form of BSE.

“A single case of atypical BSE has been confirmed on a farm in Essex. The animal died on the farm and was tested as part of our strict routine controls and surveillance regime,” said Christine Middlemiss, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer.

“Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE and is a spontaneously and sporadically occurring, non-contagious disease which is believed to occur at a very low level in all cattle populations.

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

‘Consumers can be reassured’

Food safety experts insist there is no threat to food in the UK from the case.

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

“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.”