There were seven new cases of BSE in the Irish herd in August, according to figures released by the Department of Agriculture yesterday. This is three more than last month, and brings to 48 the number of cases so far this year.
The Department of Agriculture said that despite the increase, it was "still encouraged by the downward trend this year to date". The figures so far are considerably down in comparison to the second half of 1996, a spokesman said.
There were two cases in Co Monaghan and one each in counties Cork (in a herd at the Teagasc research installation at Moorepark), Limerick, Tipperary, Kildare and Clare. There were eight cases in August 1996, while the yearly total was a record 74 cases.