A single case of atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Essex the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) announced today (Tuesday, May 20).
“There is no risk to public health or food safety from this case and the animal, as fallen stock, was not destined to enter the food chain,” APHA and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) stated today.
According to Defra and APHA, the animal in question showed “some clinical signs of BSE” and was humanely culled on farm and tested as part of Defra’s routine surveillance programme.
The last case of atypical BSE in the UK was in December 2024 in Scotland. Including this latest case, there has been a total of four cases since 2015.
Defra has outlined that atypical BSE is a “naturally occurring, non-contagious disease in cattle” which occurs spontaneously. The department also detailed that it is distinct from classical BSE, which is linked to contaminated feed.
The UK’s chief veterinary officer (CVO), Christine Middlemiss, confirmed that the animal died on farm.
She said that it had been tested as part of the UK’s strict routine controls and surveillance regime.
“This is proof that our surveillance system for detecting and containing this type of disease is working,” the CVO said.
Atypical BSE
Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE and occurs at a very low level in all cattle populations. It is reported occasionally in countries with active BSE surveillance programme, according to Defra.
BSE is a chronic degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of cattle.
“It is not contagious, so it does not spread from animal to animal or between holdings,” the department has outlined.
The World Organisation for Animal Health and trading partners have been informed of the atypical BSE case identified in Essex.
This does not affect the UK’s ability to export beef to other countries.
Dr. James Cooper, deputy director of food policy at the Food Standards Agency, has also stressed today that there there are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity.
“Consumers can be reassured that these important protection measures remain in place and that Food Standards Agency official veterinarians and meat hygiene inspectors working in all abattoirs in England will continue to ensure that the safety of consumers remains the top priority,” Dr. Cooper added.
