Minister B.Batzorig instructs officials to tackle mad cow disease

Two cows in Enkhtal baga of Darkhan-Uul Province’s Orkhon soum were found to have been infected with Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, on August 2.

The Central Sanitation Laboratory of the National Veterinary Authority confirmed that the cows were indeed infected with the disease on August 6.

Following the confirmation, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry B.Batzorig instructed officials of the ministry and the veterinary authority to take all necessary measures to prevent its spread.

In response to the minister’s instruction, Deputy Head of the province’s Emergency Management Department B.Gankhuu reported that the department disinfected and disposed of the two infected cows, and is working to prevent the disease’s spread.

Mad cow disease causes a degeneration of the brain and spinal cord in cattle and is able to transmit to people if infected cattle meat are consumed, which is why the ministry, the authority and local government offices are jointly working to stop the spread of mad cow disease in Darkhan Province.

In addition, several cases of mad cow disease were reported in Must soum of Khovd Province, Tumurbulag soum of Khuvsgul Province, and Erdenetsogt soum of Bayankhongor Province in May. As a result of the urgent response by the ministry and local government offices, the disease was not transmitted to other cows in the affected regions.