Second mad cow disease case found in Japan with infection route unidentified

A cow was confirmed mad cow disease positive in Hokkaido on November 21,
the second case in Japan after the first one was found in Chiba Prefecture
on September 10. This indicates that the disease contamination may be
spreading.

The two cows were born in 1996 in Hokkaido at the time when the
government recommended not to feed cows with meat-and-bone meal (MBM) which
is considered to be the infection route of the disease. It was a great
mistake of the government that it only issued administrative guidance and
did not impose legal controls on the MBM.

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Fudesaka Hideyo in his
statement issued on November 21 said that it has become clearer that the
government is responsible for the matter because it has done nothing to ban
the MBM, neglecting the WHO recommendation.

Pointing out that public concern can't be eliminated unless the infection
route is identified, Fudesaka demanded that the government take steps to
ensure food safety and compensate cow breeders and other affected industry
people as soon as possible. (end)