BSE denial

The Agriculture Ministry has quashed reports of a new case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Thessaly, central Greece, the Athens News Agency reported yesterday. Deputy Minister Fotis Hatzimichalis told journalists that although one suspect animal in central Greece was destroyed, subsequent laboratory tests showed no signs that the cow was infected with BSE. Hatzimichalis said further tests would be conducted to confirm the absence of any risks. The ministry ordered the slaughter of 146 cows in Kilkis, northern Greece, when the country’s first BSE scare broke in July.