This year is likely to see the highest incidents of confirmed BSE cases in Irish cattle, new statistics revealed today.
The latest figures from the Department of Agriculture show the number of cases detected so far this year has reached 246 - the same figure for all of 2001, which was a record year.
However, the Department has claimed the higher figure is due to increased testing of cattle.
A total of 660,000 tests were carried out last year and over 421,000 have already been carried out this year.
A statement said: "The underlying trend remains positive, and the increasing age profile of animals confirmed with the disease indicates that the enhanced controls introduced in 1996 and early 1997 are proving effective."
However, this week another animal born in 1997 was diagnosed with the disease.
Controls on animal feeds were tightened in 1996 and for a long time no BSE was discovered in cattle born after that date.
However, the Department now says a few animals could have been infected after 1996 because of infected meal being stored loosely in barns and sheds.
The human form of BSE, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is a rare, fatal brain disorder. It is believed to be transmitted from eating infected beef.
PA