The number of cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) continues to decline with the announcement of four new cases this week.
There have now been 37 cases this year, which is 10 fewer than in the same period last year, and 49 fewer than in the same period in 2002.
Of even greater importance, according to the scientists, is that the age profile of the animals is getting higher. This indicates that the disease is now confined to a sub-set of animals born before full-feed controls became fully operational.
Enhanced controls to stop the spread of the disease through cattle being exposed to contaminated meat and bonemeal were introduced in 1996, and by early 1999, they seemed to have become effective.
The effectiveness of Ireland's BSE controls was recognised by the EU's Scientific Steering Committee, which indicated in a report on Ireland's BSE risk published in May 2000 that Ireland's controls were stable from 1996 onwards, very stable from 1997 onwards and optimally stable since January 1st, 1998.
The youngest animal identified this week was a seven-year-old beef cow from a Co Waterford herd.
There was a nine-year-old beef breeding cow from a herd in Co Galway, and two 10-year-old dairy cows from herds in Co Limerick and Co Clare.
The cases were identified both on farms and at knackeries where all fallen stock are tested for the disease and in factories where all animals over 30 months destined for human consumption are tested for the disease.
Over 2.05 million tests have been carried out up to the end of last year under the surveillance programme: over 662,000 in 2001, over 688,000 in 2002 and over 700,000 in 2003.
Almost 52,000 tests were carried out last month.
In addition, all parts of cattle which might be infected by the disease are removed in the processing of animals.
This so-called specified risk material, which includes the spinal cord, is removed and incinerated.