Japan Suspicious of Mad-Cow Disease again

In Japan, a suspected second case of mad-cow disease was found again on Wednesday following last month`s first case. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry (HLWM) announced yesterday, ``A butchered cow in Tokyo Metropolitan area was suspected to be affected by mad-cow disease and now in the close examination.``

This cow was butchered at the Tokyo Central Wholesale Market on Wednesday a `positive suspicion` was confirmed twice through a simple test.

The HLWM was conducting training of meat examiners for the mad-cow disease in preparation for a national inspection of all cows since Sep. 18th. The suspected cow was found in the process of examination on the brain part of one cow, which was provided by the Tokyo central market, in Yokohama.

The HLWM promptly informed it to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Tokyo Metropolitan Government immediately suspended the beef distribution of the 509 cows, which were butchered on the same day, and desperately tried to collect the carcasses and organs of cows from retail stores.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is planning to burn the powdered meat and bone feed that Japan held in stock and to declare `safety from mad-cow disease.` The finding of this suspected second case of mad-cow disease has spread panic shock through out Japan.

As the mad-cow disease alarmed the Japanese, many schools have excluded beef from the food menu, and the restaurants have marked the sharp decline of beef consumption.

Shim Kyu-Sun ksshim@donga.com