November 14, 2006

Japan reports 30th mad cow case
 

A 5-year-old female cow, which died last week in Japan, has tested positive for mad cow disease, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said Monday (Nov 13).

This is the 30th case of confirmed mad cow disease in Japan. The first mad cow case was discovered in September 2001.

The cow was born on a farm in Chitose, Hokkaido in June 2001 before the implementation of a ban on meat-and-bone meal, the ministry said. Meat-and-bone meal is suspected of causing mad cow disease.

Japan now screens every cow slaughtered for consumption for mad cow disease.