As the Irish monthly BSE figures showed a dramatic increase of over 300 per cent compared with June last year, it emerged that EU scientists are examining the possibility that the disease can be spread through contaminated pasture.
There were 10 new cases of the disease here in June compared to three in June of 1999 and June 1998. Already this year there have been 19 more cases than in the same period last year.
Asked to comment on the rising Irish figures, the EU Commissioner for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety, Mr David Byrne, said the Commission was satisfied with the high levels of controls in Ireland.
European scientists had reported to him in recent days that they were examining the possibility that the disease could be transmitted through faeces on grass or pasture, he said.
He said that while rising BSE figures were always a matter of concern, the level of infection in the Irish herd was very low compared to the UK level.
The latest cases of the disease here were found in Cork (2), Meath (2), Monaghan (2) and a case each in herds in Wexford, Limerick, Galway and Cavan. Three of the cows were five years old, three were six, three were seven and one was eight.