Figures indicating the level of BSE in the country's cattle stock show no sign of declining. There were nine cases during May, seven more than in the same month last year. The figures bring the total so far this year to 48, an increase of twelve on the same period in 1999. There were three cases in May in Monaghan, two in Cavan and Wexford, and one in Cork and Clare. All the cases involved animals more than five years old.
494 cases have been reported in this country since the first outbreak in 1989. The Department of Agriculture say the age profile of the animals this month indicates that the tighter controls introduced in 1996 are working successfully
