Mad Cow Disease Found in Japan again

The second cow infected by the mad cow disease was found in Japan yesterday.

According to the report of the Japan`s Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, the Holstein cow was found positive to the mad cow disease test by the first examination by the inspection and safety division in Hokkaido and finally recognized as mad cow disease by the close examination by Obihiro Animal Husbandry College.

Since a cow infected by the mad cow disease was found in Chiba on Sep. 10, Japanese government has examined all cows. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry are tracing the route of infections especially because the previously infected cow was also from Hokkaido.

Since the mad cow disease was found only a month after the `Beef Safety Declaration` by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the distrust of the government and the avoidance of beef are expected to spread widely.

The Yakiniku restaurants managed by the Korean residents in Japan seem to be seriously influenced by the mad cow disease. The sales of those restaurants have already plunged to 80 percent.

Some believe that the detection of mad cow disease is significant because it proved that the distribution of the infected meat could be blocked effectively.

ksshim@donga.com