British order investigation into cattle disease 'similar to BSE'

The British government last night ordered an urgent investigation into the public health implications of what appears to be a…

The British government last night ordered an urgent investigation into the public health implications of what appears to be a new cattle disease similar to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.

The as yet unidentified disease killed a young heifer after five or six days of weakness in its legs and progressive paralysis some months ago.

It has emerged that there have been 20 other "similar" deaths in cattle across 13 farms in England over the past ten years.

This was when the case was being discussed by the UK Zoonoses Group in April which examines diseases that might be transmitted between animal and man.

READ MORE

After consideration of the heifer's death and 20 other "similar" cases across 13 farms in England over the last 10 years, the issue was referred to the Department of Health.

The Health Protection Agency was then asked to carry out a risk assessment of all 21 deaths as "a matter of urgency which should be completed over the next couple of weeks".

In Dublin the Department of Agriculture and Food said it was keeping a close eye on developments in Britain and was aware of the reports of a new strain.

British scientists said that the Polio-type condition might have been caused by a viral infection that damaged the white matter in the young cow's brain on a Cumbrian farm and led to its death.

The animal was tested for recognised bovine diseases and all proved negative including the suspicion she had died from botulism.

Encephalitis was suspected and the heifer was tested for louping-ill, which causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and is transmitted by ticks.

The animal was also tested for West Nile disease, a virus spread via mosquito which has not yet come to the UK, and bovine herpes 1, but all results were negative.

Britain is Ireland's largest outlet for beef.