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EU Declares Scotland Free of Bovine TB in Cows

by VR Sreeraman on Oct 16 2009 1:42 PM

Scotland was on Thursday declared free of bovine tuberculosis by the European Commission, following unanimous agreement by EU member states, becoming the first part of Britain to gain that status.

"This is a real measure of success for Scotland's livestock industry which has worked tirelessly, in conjunction with its government," said a statement praising the semi-independent government in Edinburgh.

Scotland, seeking full independence from Britain under First Minister Alex Salmond, becomes the first part of Britain to achieve that status.

"Scotland will continue to apply the measures that have helped them eradicate bovine tuberculosis, and will now keep in place targeted controls to preserve its bovine tuberculosis status and further reduce the risks of reintroduction of the infection," the commission statement added.

The disease can be transmitted to humans via untreated milk and human cases have become very rare since the process of pasteurisation became widely used in the early 20th century.

Source-AFP
SRM


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