Atypical BSE case confirmed in Ireland
A case of ‘atypical BSE’ in a cow has been confirmed by the Republic of Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The case was identified in an 18 year old cow through the department’s surveillance of ‘fallen’ animals (died on farm) at knackeries.
The animal tested positive on a screening test carried out at a Department approved, accredited private laboratory over the weekend and was then subject to follow up confirmatory tests at the Department’s Central Veterinary Research Laboratory.
The cow has since been excluded from the food chain and its carcase will be incinerated.
Atypical BSE is said to occur sporadically in older animals. It was first recognised in the early 2000s in Europe following the large scale testing of livestock that was put in place at that time.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has said that there is no associated public health risk with the case and that this finding does not have any impact on Ireland’s current OIE BSE ‘controlled risk’ status or trade status.
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