MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Mad cow” case confirmed in Luxembourg

A new case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, BSE, or “mad cow” has been reported in Luxembourg, according to the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

The new case was confirmed Thursday in Brussels where samples had been taken to be tested in a specialized veterinary laboratory.

However the Ministry was quick to point out that the case does not involve any risk to consumers since the beef never reached the market

"Beef from this particular animal was never in the market", said Octavie Modert, Agriculture and Livestock minister.

This is the third BSE case in Luxembourg; the two previous occurred in 1997 and 2001.

The new case was detected last November 7 during a routine inspection to abattoirs, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

The four year old Charolais cow, as well as all other animals in the lot have been set aside and are under clinical observation.

So far there are no indications as to how the cow contracted BSE. Nevertheless another fifteen cattle belonging to the farm where the case was tracked have been sacrificed as a "precautionary measure".