020266 Irish Mad Cow Tally Up Sharply This YearFebruary 23, 2002Dublin - Ireland's farm ministry has logged 72 mad cow disease cases so far this year, more than twice the number in the same period of 2001, reflecting increased testing of suspect animals. Agriculture ministry officials said on Friday that 12 cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) had been recorded in the past week, bringing February's running total to 30. Only 33 cases of the disease were found in the first two months of 2001. Officials attribute the rising trend to increased testing of suspect animals, after screening of all cattle over the age of 30 months was introduced in January 2001. Since July last year tests have also been carried out on all cattle that die or become injured on farms, even though such cattle would not enter the food chain. "We would have expected the numbers to go up due to the increased surveillance," a spokesman said. In 2001 the total number of BSE cases rose to 242, from 145 in 2000, and 91 cases in 1999, the ministry said. "Our veterinary people say numbers should peak this year and then fall off," the spokesman said, adding that no animals born after 1996 had tested positive. Before July 2000, only animals pointed out to the authorities by farmers were tested--a matter of only hundreds in a year. Last year some 630,000 tests were carried out. The spokeswoman said the numbers should be considered in the light of Ireland's total cattle population of 7.6 million. By comparison, Britain's national herd numbers around 12 million.
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