A case of classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease, has been confirmed in a cow on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

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The Scottish Government disclosed this in a statement published on its website on Wednesday, saying precautionary movement restrictions had been imposed on the animal’s offspring and its cohort at the affected premises.

PUNCH Online reports that mad cow disease is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain and nervous system of cattle.

Infected cows typically show symptoms four or five years after exposure, including nervousness, aggression or anxiety.

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Other symptoms include difficulty walking or standing, tremors, reduced milk production and weight loss despite a normal appetite.

The disease is always fatal once clinical signs appear. There is no established treatment or vaccine.

According to the government, investigations by the Animal and Plant Health Agency were ongoing to establish the origin of the disease outbreak.

The statement read, “A case of classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed in a cow on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway.

“Precautionary movement restrictions have been put in place on the offspring of the animal and its ‘cohort’ at the impacted premises.  This is standard procedure for a confirmed case of classical BSE.

“The case was identified as a result of our routine though intensive BSE surveillance and stringent control measures that are in place. The animal did not enter the human food chain and Food Standards Scotland have confirmed there is no risk to human health as a result of this isolated case.”

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria