BSE detected in Aberdeenshire

The Scottish Government has introduced a movement ban on a farm in Aberdeenshire after BSE was detected.

Although the case is not considered a threat to human health, ministers introduced an emergency prevention response plan, placing movement restrictions on the farm and launching further investigations to identify its origin.

The disease, described as classical BSE, did not enter the human food chain.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “While it is important to stress that this is standard procedure until we have a clear understanding of the diseases origin, this is further proof that our surveillance system for detecting this type of disease is working. Be assured that the Scottish Government and its partners stand ready to respond to any further confirmed cases of the disease in Scotland.”

The Scottish Government said that while the disease is not directly transmitted from animal to animal, its cohorts have been traced and isolated, and will be destroyed in line with EU requirements.

Chief Veterinary Officer Sheila Voas said: “While it is too early to tell where the disease came from in this case, its detection is proof that our surveillance system is doing its job. We are working closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to answer this question, and in the meantime, I would urge any farmer who has concerns to immediately seek veterinary advice.”

It represents the first confirmed case of BSE, also known as ‘mad cow disease’, in Scotland since 2008.