Four new BSE cases this week
11/03/2005 - 12:49:56Four new BSE cases were detected in Ireland this week, according to figures released by the Department of Agriculture today.
The department said the disease was detected in three dairy cows aged between nine and 10 years in Cork, Limerick and Monaghan and a six-year-old suckler in Monaghan.
The suckler case will cause some concern as the affected animal was born following the introduction of enhanced BSE controls in 1996 and early 1997.
However, the Department of Agriculture has insisted the underlying age profile of cattle with BSE indicates those controls are proving effective.
It said a total of 15 BSE cases had been reported so far this year, compared to 46 in the same period last year, 64 in 2002 and 104 in 2003.
