BSE drop shows controls working, says Dept

No BSE cases were detected in Ireland this week for the third consecutive week - a sign controls were working, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The Dept said today that the number of BSE cases recorded so far this year remained at 68, compared to 105 in the same period last year.

It said the increasing age profiles of the infected animals showed that enhanced controls introduced in 1996 and early 1997 were proving effective.