Vol. 564 No. 3
57 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of BSE cases discovered since 1 January 2003; the way in which this compares with the same period in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8835/03]
In the period from January to March 2003, 69 cases of BSE have been confirmed compared with 118 cases in the corresponding period in 2002, which represents a reduction of 42%. In addition, the age profile of cases detected continues to increase. In 2002 some 2% of cases were identified in animals less than six years old at the time of diagnosis, compared with 16% in 2001 and 40% in 2000. To date in 2003, no cases have been confirmed in animals under six years of age. The increasing age profile of animals in which the disease is confirmed is a positive indication that the enhanced controls introduced in 1996 and 1997 are having the desired effect and that the incidence of BSE will continue to decline as older animals leave the system. Notwithstanding the possibility of there being further individual cases off-trend, there is every reason to believe that the current manifestly positive trend will continue.
