France detects first case of mad cow disease since 2011 | Inquirer News

France detects first case of mad cow disease since 2011

/ 06:25 PM March 24, 2016

PARIS, France—France has found an “isolated” case of mad cow disease, its first occurrence since 2011, the agriculture ministry said Thursday.

The ministry said the case of BSE had been detected in the northeastern region of the Ardennes, near the Belgian border.

“A suspected case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), detected in a five-year-old cow which died prematurely at a cattle farm in Ardennes, was confirmed on March 23 by the European Union reference laboratory,” it said in a statement.

Article continues after this advertisement

The case has been reported to the European Commission and the Paris-based veterinary watchdog, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), it said.

FEATURED STORIES

The ministry also sought to reassure consumers. “The detection of this case has no impact for the consumer,” it said.

BSE is a brain-destroying disease among cattle that sparked a scare in the 1990s when it was found it could also be transmitted to humans who ate beef infected with the agent, a rogue protein called a prion.

Article continues after this advertisement

The epidemic — of which Britain was the epicentre — was traced to the use of infected carcasses recycled for animal feed, prompting dozens of countries to strengthen veterinary controls.

Article continues after this advertisement

The number of cases has plummeted, although isolated occurrences persist, according to a tally by the OIE.

Article continues after this advertisement

In 2015, there were single cases in Canada, Ireland, Norway and Slovenia, as well as two cases in Britain, the OIE said on its website Thursday.

RELATED STORIES

Article continues after this advertisement

Canada finds madcow in dairy cow

Mad cow disease found in California

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Agriculture, France, Livestock

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.