Case of ‘mad cow disease’ confirmed at Scottish farm
A case of BSE – commonly known as “mad cow disease” – has been discovered at a farm in Scotland, officials have confirmed.
The animal was found to have Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) following “routine surveillance”, authorities said.
Restrictions on movement have been put in place at the farm in Ayrshire as a result. Food Standards Scotland say there is no risk to human health as a result of this isolated case.
Further investigations to identify the origin of the disease are ongoing as is standard procedure for a confirmed case of classical BSE.
Cases of BSE are rare in the UK following an outbreak in the 1990s which led to four million cattle being slaughtered.
A case was confirmed in a six-year-old cow in Somerset in 2021.
Scotland’s agriculture minister Jim Fairlie said: “Following confirmation of a case of classical BSE in Ayrshire, the Scottish Government and other agencies took swift and robust action to protect the agriculture sector. This included establishing a precautionary movement ban on the farm.
“The fact we identified this isolated case so quickly is proof that our surveillance system for detecting this type of disease is working effectively.
“I want to thank the animal’s owner for their diligence. Their decisive action has allowed us to identify and isolate the case at speed which has minimised its impact on the wider industry.”
Scotland’s chief veterinary officer Sheila Voas said: “The fast 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 where the disease came from.
“I want to reassure both farmers and the public that the risk associated with this isolated case is minimal. But, if any farmers are concerned, I would urge them to seek veterinary advice.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
