November 28, 2005

Luxembourg reports new mad cow disease case

Luxembourg's government has reported a new case of mad cow disease, or BSE, in a four-year-old Charolais cow. This was the third BSE case in the country after two previous cases were reported in 1997 and 2001.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock said a routine inspection of abattoirs in early November led to the detection of the disease. The samples were then sent to a specialised veterinary laboratory in Brussels where the disease was confirmed.

However, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Octavie Modert said beef from the infected animal never reached the market, in a bid to reassure the public.

Another fifteen cattle belonging to the affected farm have also been culled as a precaution.