BSE numbers continue to fall

Ireland: The number of BSE cases in cattle is continuing to fall for the second successive year, according to Department of Agriculture and Food figures released yesterday.

One outbreak in a nine- year-old dairy animal in Laois this week brought to 29 the number of cases so far in 2004. There were 29 cases in the same period last year and 60 in 2002.

Veterinary and other experts had predicted a sharp decline in the number of BSE cases from 2003 onwards as a result of enhanced controls and other measures.