The number of cases of BSE jumped by 10 this week to bring the yearly total to 240, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, reports Sean MacConnell, Agriculture Correspondent.
There were two cases in Laois, three in Limerick, and one each in Galway, Cork, Cavan, Monaghan and Roscommon. The victims were aged between six and nine years.
A spokesman for the Department said four of the cases were found by passive surveillance and the remainder by active tests on injured or diseased animals not bound for the human food chain.
The total number of cases found in the Irish herd since the disease was first identified here in 1989 has reached 835. The total includes four bulls.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Mr Walsh, announced yesterday that a special purchase scheme introduced by the EU to remove surplus cow beef from the market which has underpinned the beef market here since July, will continue until March 31st.
This scheme has been removing 8,000 to 10,000 cows a week from the market.