Thirty-seven cows showing symptoms of mad cow disease in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, have been cleared of infection, local public health officials said Friday.
The cows are part of a herd of 57 being inspected as they are unable to stand, a symptom of the disease, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The remaining 20 are still being checked.
The cause of the cows' inability to stand was not immediately known.
The inspections are part of a nationwide check ordered by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry in May, and are being done in cooperation with the Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine in Hokkaido.