MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Japan reports new case of “mad cow”

A nine year old cow in the northern island of Hokkaido has been confirmed a the nineteenth case of “mad cow” in Japan, confirmed Thursday the Ministry of Public Health, Labour and Human Services.

The cow apparently was born in the spring of 1996, the same time several other animals which eventually proved infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, BSE.

The Ministry said that the current prevention policy imposed by the Japanese government will remain unchanged since the cow was born before the ban on cattle food and fodder made out of animal bone and refuse, which is signalled as the main cause for spreading the deadly disease.

Tests on the cow proved positive in the two universities which managed the case, Hokkaido University and the Obihiro Agriculture and Veterinary School.