Record number of BSE cases likely this year

IRELAND is heading for a record number of BSE cases this year.

Four new cases recorded this week in Mayo, Galway, Limerick and Clare brought the total for the year so far to 246 - the same as was recorded for all of last year, which was also a record.

The upsurge in the number of cases this year is being attributed to increased surveillance by the Department of Agriculture and had been predicted by veterinary experts.