Department gives assurance over BSE controls

THE Department of Agriculture has assured the public that Irish BSE controls are among the strictest possible, after a suspected case of the disease’s human form was reported at the weekend.

The male patient is being treated at a major Dublin hospital, where further evaluation is ongoing. While it may take some time to confirm if he is suffering from variant CJD (vCJD), the hospital said he has met some of the clinical criteria for the disease.

The name of the hospital and details of the patient are being kept confidential to protect his privacy.