As Finland announced its first case of BSE yesterday, the Department of Agriculture here announced five new cases this week.
Finland was one of three remaining countries in the EU which did not have any confirmed cases of the disease until yesterday. The other two countries are Sweden and Austria.
The five new Irish cases bring the total so far this year to 229, the highest number of cases on record in any year since the disease was first identified here in 1989.
Since 1989 Ireland has had a total of 825 cases altogether, but the numbers have accelerated in the last two years as the Department has been actively seeking cases in sick and injured animals which are not destined for the human food chain.
This week's case were found in herds in Waterford, Donegal, Cork (two) and Cavan. The oldest cow was eight years, there were two seven-year-olds and two five-year-olds.