A case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly referred to as mad cow disease, has been confirmed in a cow on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish government has confirmed.
Stringent control measures and restrictions have since been imposed at the impacted premises in an attempt to restrain the movement of animals thought to have been in contact with the diseased cow and to curb the spread of mad cow disease.
The cow in question was not presented for slaughter and as such, has not entered the food chain, government has said in a statement.
The statement also said that the case was identified during routine but intensive BSE surveillance and the Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) continues to conduct an investigation into the origin of the disease.
Mad cow disease
Mad cow disease is a fatal brain disease that affects cattle of both sexes, typically in four and or five-year-olds, but cases have also been discovered in younger cattle.
The disease occurs spontaneously in bovines, usually lasts for several weeks and is characteristically progressive and lethal in nature.
Atypical BSE differs from classical BSE in this respect, as the latter is transmitted through contaminated feed.
While the atypical BSE is not directly transmitted from animal to animal, its byproducts, including offspring, have been traced and isolated, and will be destroyed in line with legal requirements, government said.
The disease presents itself slowly, with signs developing over a number of weeks and/or months.
Symptoms include;
Change in behaviour; loss of body condition, weight or milk yield; tremors; repeated, exaggerated reactions to touch or sound; aggression towards humans or towards other cattle; manic kicking during milking or reluctance to allow milking and excessive nose licking.
Atypical BSE is not known to be a risk to public health. Food Standards Scotland have also confirmed there is no risk to human health as a result of this isolated case.
Mad cow disease was first identified in the UK in 1986, quickly transitioning into an epidemic, with more than 35,000 herds affected in the UK alone.
