The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) announced on Wednesday (22) that it is adopting all necessary measures after the confirmation of a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), popularly known as mad cow disease.

The animal – a 9-year-old male – was raised in pasture, without feed.

According to mapa, he was slaughtered and his carcass incinerated on the site, a small property in the municipality of Marabá (PA).

According to the Map, the world animal health organization (OMAS) was communicated and the samples were sent to the institution's reference laboratory in Alberta, Canada, which can confirm whether the case is atypical.

The Brazilian official veterinary service is conducting epidemiological research that may be continued or closed according to the result.

Exports of suspended beef

Following the official health protocol, exports of beef to China will be temporarily suspended from Thursday (23).

However, the dialogue with the authorities is being intensified to demonstrate all the information and the prompt re-establishment of the Brazilian meat trade.

Total beef exports in January grew 7% in revenue and 17% in volume (adding fresh meat + processed meat), compared to January 2022, reaching US$ 851.2 million and 183,817 tons.

Imports from China accounted for 57% of this volume, with revenues of US$ 485.3 million and 100,164 tons acquired.

Mad cow disease

BSE is a disease that affects the brains of cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats and can be transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated meat.

Brazil is considered a territory of negligible risk for the occurrence of the disease, according to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

The country has recorded only a few isolated cases of the disease in recent decades, which have been controlled and eliminated.

The last cases of mad cow in Brazil occurred in 2021, in Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso, and were considered atypical.

Mad cow disease became known worldwide after an outbreak in the UK during the 1990s, which caused the suspension of beef consumption in the country.

The disease can lead humans to death, so there is strict health control to prevent and control cases related to pathology.

Source: Canal Rural