MAD COW DISEASE CASE FOUND ON SCOTS FARM
Restrictions put in place in four locations as BSE is found in animal for first time in 6 years
THE first case of “mad cow disease” in Scotland in six years has been discovered on an Ayrshire farm.
Movement restrictions have been put in place at the farm and three others as inspectors try to find the source of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) outbreak.
The case was identified as a result of routine surveillance and stringent control measures.
Ian McWatt, deputy chief executive of Food Standards Scotland, said consumers could be reassured important protection measures remain in place to stop BSE getting into the food chain.
He said meat hygiene inspectors working in all abattoirs in Scotland “will continue to ensure that in respect of BSE controls, the safety of consumers remains a priority”.
Scotland’s chief veterinary officer Sheila Voas confirmed the outbreak yesterday.
She said: “The fast detection of this case is proof our surveillance system is doing its job.
“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.”
Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: “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.”
Food Standards Scotland say there is no risk to human health as it did not enter the food chain.
The owners of the affected animals are working with authorities on next steps.
The last case of BSE found in Scotland was at a farm in Lumsden, Aberdeenshire, in 2018.
In 1995, a 19-year-old became the first victim of CreutzfeldtJakob Disease and the following year the British Health Secretary admitted mad cow disease was the most likely explanation for 10 deaths from CJD.
CJD affects the brain, causing damage which worsens rapidly over time. There is no cure.