May 4, 2004

Mad Cow Case Found In Italy

A cow from a breeding farm in northern Italy tested positive for mad cow disease. This is the 119th case detected in Italy since testing began in 2001.

According to the Italian Health Ministry, the disease in the eight-year-old cow near Bolzano was confirmed by a testing done at a zoological institute that serves as the national control center for the disease. It is the second confirmed case this year.

The European Union requires tests conducted on cattle older than thirty months, and headed for slaughter.

Two years ago, a young woman in Sicily reportedly contracted the human form of the brain-wasting illness. It was the first case involving humans in Italy. Experts believe the human form of the illness is transmitted by eating meat from infected animals.