© GettyThe dead cow is not reported to be a risk to public health
An investigation has been launched after a case of 'mad cow disease' was found in a cow in Wales. It did not enter the food chain and there is no risk to human health, the Welsh Government said in a statement.It is appears to be the first BSE case for the whole of the UK in 2015.
A wave of panic started in 1995, when 19-year-old Stephen Churchill died of a fatal brain condition linked to mad cow disease. By 2000, the leading group monitoring the outbreak was warning that the worst-case scenario could see 500,000 people die a similarly horrifying death. But there has been just one death from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) - the condition which killed Stephen - in the last three years.
The location of the farm where the latest case was found hasn't been identified and it's not known what measures were put in place on the farm as a result.
No risk to human health
A statement from Rebecca Evans, deputy farming and food minister, said: "The Welsh Government and the Animal and Plant Health Agency have confirmed a case of classical BSE in a single deceased bovine on a farm in Wales.
"The case was identified as a result of the strict control measures we have in place. It did not enter the human food chain and the Food Standards Agency and Public Health Wales have confirmed there is no risk to human health as a result of this isolated case. "There have been a number of sporadic cases of BSE identified across the UK in recent years. The last case recorded in Wales was in 2013."
The Welsh Government says there is no risk to human health. Ms Evans said her officials were working with the UK Government department DEFRA and the Animal Plant Health Agency to investigate the circumstances of the case. "Identification of this case demonstrates that the controls we have in place are working well," Ms Evans added.
BSE is not contagious and only spreads through feed containing meat and bone meal from BSE-infected cattle. It is not know how the cow got the disease.
It wasn't spelled out what happened to this farm as a result, although farms which have suspected cases can be subject to movement restrictions.
Llyr Gruffydd AM, Plaid Cymru's shadow minister for rural affairs said: "This is an isolated case and there is absolutely no risk to human health. We can be reassured by the fact that this case was identified as it demonstrates that the systems in place are working effectively."
What happens to a farm if BSE is found?
The English Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has a comprehensive guide on BSE. It lays out the restrictions on movement for livestock that come into play if a case is suspected.
In essence, livestock is not moved off a farm if a case of BSE is suspected. DEFRA says, in its guide to farmers, that: "If one of your animals is showing signs of BSE you must report this to your local APHAoffice. "An APHA vet will visit your farm and carry out a veterinary assessment on the animal as soon as possible.
Mad cow disease sparked a wave of panic in the UK in the 1990s
"If the APHA vet suspects your animal has BSE, they'll issue a notice restricting the movement of the animal (movement restriction). They'll either cull the animal on your premises or transport it to an APHA laboratory for slaughter depending on the animal's condition."They'll put a herd restriction in place prohibiting the movement of cattle on and off your farm (whole herd restriction) and test your animal to find out if it has BSE.
"Once cohort and offspring animals are identified, they'll issue notices restricting the movements of these animals and the whole herd restrictions are lifted. "If BSE is suspected in a female cow, the APHA will trace any of its offspring that were born up to 2 years before or after the mother showed signs of the disease. "They'll put movement restrictions in place and they'll slaughter the offspring if BSE is confirmed in the mother."
As it happened
2.52pm Tory response
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Russell George AM, said: "We should be extremely encouraged that this case has been identified. That clearly shows the systems are working.
"It's an isolated case, there is no risk to human health and we will continue to work with the minister on this issue."
2.41pm 'It is important farmers know they have our support,' says Lib Dem AM
William Powell, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Farming Minister and AM for Mid and West Wales said: "This is of course very disappointing news.
"However, I can't emphasise enough that we have immensely robust control measures in place to detect and prevent any infected produce from entering the food chain. Both the Food Standards Agency and Public Health Wales have confirmed there is no risk to human health.
"The drop in prices has already badly hit farmers financially and it is important they know they have our full support. Wales has the best beef produce in the world and that is something our nation can continue to be immensely proud of.
"It is vitally important that the Welsh Government keep members of the public regularly updated on this issue."
2.38pm This may be the first BSE case in the UK for the whole of 2015
BSE has become much less of an issue than in previous years and cases have become far more scarce.
If these figures from the World Organisation for Animal Health are correct, 2015 has so far seen no BSE cases in the UK.
There was only one in 2014, and three in 2013. That compares to 225 ten years ago and 1,443 at the turn of the century.
2.26pm What happens to a farm if BSE is found?
The English Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has a comprehensive guide on BSE. It lays out the restrictions on movement for livestock that come into play if a case is suspected.
In essence, livestock is not moved off a farm if a case of BSE is suspected.
DEFRA says, in its guide to farmers, that: "If one of your animals is showing signs of BSE you must report this to your local APHAoffice.
"An APHA vet will visit your farm and carry out a veterinary assessment on the animal as soon as possible.
"If the APHA vet suspects your animal has BSE, they'll issue a notice restricting the movement of the animal (movement restriction). They'll either cull the animal on your premises or transport it to an APHA laboratory for slaughter depending on the animal's condition.
"They'll put a herd restriction in place prohibiting the movement of cattle on and off your farm (whole herd restriction) and test your animal to find out if it has BSE.
"Once cohort and offspring animals are identified, they'll issue notices restricting the movements of these animals and the whole herd restrictions are lifted.
"If BSE is suspected in a female cow, the APHA will trace any of its offspring that were born up to 2 years before or after the mother showed signs of the disease.
"They'll put movement restrictions in place and they'll slaughter the offspring if BSE is confirmed in the mother."
2.17pm How does BSE spread?
It's not known in this case how this cow, from a yet to be identified farm, got the disease.
According to BSEinfo the disease "does not spread from animal to animal contact or from animals to humans through normal contact.
"BSE can only be transmitted through feed containing meat and bone meal (MBM) from BSE-infected cattle."
2.07pm What does it mean?
It appears from the Welsh Government's statement that this is an isolated case. This means that it is not thought to have affected other animals.
It also appears that the cow had not reached the food chain - meaning there is no risk to food supplies.
1.55pm The Assembly Member for Plaid Cymru who speaks on rural affairs says he is reassured by the fact that the case was identified.
Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru's spokesman for rural affairs and a North Wales regional AM, said: "This is an isolated case and there is absolutely no risk to human health. We can be reassured by the fact that this case was identified as it demonstrates that the systems in place are working effectively."
1.44pm There's lots we don't know about this case yet - the Welsh Government have only said that he cow was in Wales but not exactly where. We've asked the Welsh Government if this will be revealed.
1.37pm Wave of panic started in 1995
When 19-year-old Stephen Churchill died of a fatal brain condition linked to 'mad cow disease' in 1995, it sparked a wave of panic in the British public.
By 2000, the leading group monitoring the outbreak was warning that the worst-case scenario could see 500,000 people die a similarly horrifying death.
But what happened next?
Data released this week shows there has been just ONE death from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) - the condition which killed Stephen - in the last three years.
1.31pm 'No risk to human health'
The Welsh Government has launched an investigation after the discovery.
It did not enter the food chain and there is no risk to human health, it said in a statement.
A statement from Rebecca Evans, deputy farming and food minister, said: "The Welsh Government and the Animal and Plant Health Agency have confirmed a case of classical BSE in a single deceased bovine on a farm in Wales.
"The case was identified as a result of the strict control measures we have in place. It did not enter the human food chain and the Food Standards Agency and Public Health Wales have confirmed there is no risk to human health as a result of this isolated case. There have been a number of sporadic cases of BSE identified across the UK in recent years. The last case recorded in Wales was in 2013.
"My officials are working closely with DEFRA and the APHA to investigate the circumstances of this case.
"All animals over four years of age that die on a farm are routinely tested for the disease under our comprehensive surveillance system. Whilst the disease is not directly transmitted from animal to animal, its cohorts, including offspring, have been traced and isolated, and will be destroyed in line with EU requirements.
"In addition to the measures we have in place for fallen stock and animal feed, there is a strict control regime to protect consumers. This includes the removal of 'specified risk material' such as the spinal column, brain and skull from carcasses.
"Identification of this case demonstrates that the controls we have in place are working well.
"Beef across the UK continues to be produced in compliance with the World Organisation for Animal Health rules."
Comment: More reasons to avoid factory-farmed (CAFO) foods.