June 9, 2006

Austria reports mad cow disease

Health authorities confirmed a case of mad cow disease in the west Austrian province of Tirol after a 13-year-old cow tested positive for mad cow disease, Austrian media reported on Wednesday (Jun 8).

It was the first case of the disease in Tirol and the country's fifth since 2001.

This case shows that the disease control system in Austria functions effectively, Austrian Health Minister Maria Rauch Kallat told local media.

The cow, which was fed with local feed, had not shown any symptoms of the disease before the test.

Health authorities immediately quarantined the farm as a precautionary measure.

Austrian veterinary authorities have carried out 1.2 million tests on cows in the past 5 years.