New BSE case found in Germany

BERLIN, Germany -- Germany fears more cases of mad cow disease will be found in its herd following the discovery of a second cow infected with the brain-wasting disease in Bavaria.

Erwin Jordan, state secretary in the health ministry, said on Monday the disease would likely be found in many more of Germany's 15 million cattle now that the country, which once thought it was immune, has implemented a rigorous system of nationwide testing.

"I can't predict how many cases we will have. But it could become critical," Jordan said after the latest case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Germany was confirmed.

Authorities searching in Bavaria for further cases said that two other cows in Furth im Wald and Oberpfalz may also be infected with the disease that scientists believe is linked to the human form of mad cow disease, new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD).

The test results are expected by mid-week.

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Germany was shocked by the spread of mad cow disease across its borders after the first case was discovered last month.

It shattered a belief its supposedly superior testing measures and safety standards made it immune to BSE and vCJD, which has claimed more than 80 lives in Britain and France.

Germany, which at first tried to pass off the first case as an aberration, has also been criticised in recent years for blocking the European Union from taking tougher steps against BSE.

"It gives me no pleasure to say that I am not surprised by the discovery of BSE in Bavaria," EU food safety commissioner David Byrne said in a statement in Brussels.

"Even if Germany has only recently realised the risk that BSE has posed they must ensure that all EU legislation is fully implemented.

"If this is done then consumers can have confidence in the beef they eat. There must be no half measures in regards to public health and safety."

Even before the second confirmed case of BSE emerged, butchers in Germany were reporting plunging beef sales.

"The problem is that we know so little about BSE," said Bavarian Farm Minister Josef Miller. He pledged an immediate two million marks ($950,000) for increased study. "We are going to have to intensify the research on BSE."

Germany has already said a six month ban on meat-based animal feeds across the European Union -- agreed earlier this month and set to be introduced from January 1 -- is not long enough to tackle the crisis.

The EU ministers also agreed to exclude all cattle more than 30 months old from entering the food chain unless tests prove the animals are free from mad cow disease.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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German Dept of Agriculture
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