September 27, 2006

Japan reports suspected mad cow case

A cow in northern Japan is suspected of having the country's 29th case of mad cow disease, an official said Tuesday (Sep 26). 

Preliminary tests done in animal health laboratories in Hokkaido prefecture were positive, officials said. Final test results could be known by the end of this week.

Since the first case in Japan was detected in 2001, the government has required every cow slaughtered or died to be checked for mad cow disease.  

Japan banned American beef in December 2003 after the first case of mad cow disease in the US.

In July this year, Japan eased the ban, but sales have been slow as consumers were said to be doubtful of the safety of US beef, even though the incidences of mad cow disease has been much lower.