Three new cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, have been discovered in Spain, officials said Tuesday in the northwestern region of Galicia.
The finds took the total number of cases recorded in Spain since systematic testing began last November to 15, nine of them from Galicia.
The regional agriculture ministry said one of the affected animals was seven years old and the other two were five.
Feeding cattle with animal-based meal, which is believed to be the cause of BSE, has been banned in Spain since 1994.
The Spanish newspaper El Pais said in its Monday edition that eight of the cases previously discovered in the country were in cattle that had been fed animal-based meal after the ban was brought in.
The Galician statement said the latest cases had been confirmed by a national testing laboratory in the city of Zaragoza -- SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain (AFP)
