BSE spreads to Far East

Japanese government officials believe they have found the first case of an animal infected with mad cow disease.

A cow believed to carry the sickness was located in Chiba prefecture, which borders Tokyo on the east.

Japan has tried to prevent the disease from entering its borders by restricting blood donations from people who have lived in Britain.

Amid signs of spreading mad cow disease across Europe, Japan last year banned EU beef and food made from processed beef and bull sperm, which is used for breeding.