April 20, 2006

Japan confirms 25th mad cow disease case

Japan has confirmed its 25th case of mad cow disease, a health ministry statement said Wednesday (Apr 19).

The confirmation comes a day after a 20-month-old steer tested negative for the disease.

A 71-month-old female Holstein from a farm in the western prefecture of Okayama was confirmed by the health ministry to be infected with mad cow disease.

It tested positive in a general screening when it was slaughtered two days ago and the health ministry's expert panel on the disease confirmed the infection, the ministry said in a statement.

The latest cases of mad cow disease emerged as Japan is negotiating with the US over lifting the bans on US beef over mad cow concerns.

Japan is the only Asian country to have confirmed mad cow cases. The government now screens every cow slaughtered for consumption.