Scotland Confirms a Case of Mad Cow Disease
X/ @Jane__Black
December 6, 2024 Hour: 2:40 pm
The animals linked to this case have been quarantined and will be culled in accordance with legal protocols to minimize risks.
On Friday, Scottish authorities confirmed a case of atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as “mad cow disease,” on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway, located in the southwest of Scotland.
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This mad-cow case was identified during a routine check and poses no risk to human health, according to Food Standards Scotland, which added that strict control measures have been put in place.
There are two types of BSE: the classic variant, which can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of infected meat, and the atypical variant, as in this case, which occurs spontaneously and does not pose a public health risk.
“There are strict controls in place to protect consumers, and these measures continue to ensure their safety,” said Ian McWatt, Deputy Director of Food Standards Scotland.
Chief Veterinary Officer Sheila Voas stated that authorities are working with the affected farm and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to investigate the origin of the case.
“I want to reassure both farmers and the public that the risk associated with this isolated case is minimal. However, if any farmer has concerns, I urge them to seek veterinary advice,” she added.
The offspring and other animals linked to the case have been quarantined and will be culled in accordance with legal protocols to minimize risks. Additionally, high-risk materials such as the brain, spinal cord, and skull will be removed from carcasses intended for human consumption to ensure food safety.
Since the crisis of the 1980s, which affected 180,000 cattle in the United Kingdom, strict surveillance systems have been implemented. In the past decade, only a few isolated cases have been reported, including one in Ayrshire, in the southwest of Scotland, in May.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE