New mad cow case in Japan?

There could be another case of mad cow disease in Japan, authorities there say. If the case is confirmed it will be the country's tenth case so far.


Initial tests on a dairy cow came up positive. Then, a second test indicated that it was highly likely the cow did have mad cow disease, said a Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare official.


They said they will determine if it really is BSE this evening (Sunday).


Officials also said that the cow's carcass has been dealt with and has not reached the market.


The first case of BSE (mad cow disease) appeared in Japan in September 2001.


It is the only country in Asia to confirm the existence of BSE. Every cow in Japan is screened when it is slaughtered.


The dairy cow came from a dairy farm in the Kanagawa prefecture.


This could be the first case of mad cow disease in Japan in over a year-and-a-half.