November 17, 2004

Spain Reports New Mad Cow Disease Case

Spain has detected a new case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. The number of cases in the country is now increased to 20 since the first appearance of the disease in 2000.

Spain's Agriculture and Fishery Ministry revealed Tuesday that the case was confirmed by the Zaragoza and Algete laboratories in Madrid.

According to the ministry, the infected animal, a seven-year-old cow on a farm near the Ciudadela city on the Balearic islands, has died.

As a preventive measure, the government ordered the slaughter of all the 157 animals on that farm as well as their offspring with the same age as the infected cow.

The carcasses of the cows will be incinerated and the owner will receive compensation.