Mad cow disease confirmed on Essex farm
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What we know about the mad cow disease case on Essex farm
- A single case of atypical BSE – commonly known as mad cow disease – has been confirmed on a farm in Essex.
- The cow was humanely culled after showing symptoms and subsequently tested positive.
- Officials say there is no risk to public health or food safety, as the animal was not intended for the food chain.
- Atypical BSE is a rare, non-contagious disease that occurs spontaneously in cattle, unlike classical BSE, which is linked to contaminated feed.
- This case demonstrates the effectiveness of the UK's surveillance system for detecting and containing such diseases.