BSE case in the Netherlands is old-age variant
The variant is not dangerous to public health
2 February 2023
1 minute read
By: A case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, discovered on a farm in the Netherlands is the old age variant that is not dangerous to public health, Reuters reported, citing the agriculture ministry on Wednesday.
The infection was found in a dead cow on Jan. 30 in the South Holland province of the Netherlands.
"Atypical cases of (mad cow disease) occur sporadically in older cows," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the last found case in the Netherlands dated back to 2011.
"Scientists believe that the atypical variants may arise spontaneously."
The other variant of BSE, the classic type of infection, is usually caused by contaminated animal feed.
Widespread cases of BSE hit cattle herds in Britain and other European countries in the 1990s. Atypical cases have occasionally been detected and can lead to temporary trade restrictions.
