A third Japanese cow has been diagnosed as having mad cow disease, although a final confirmation of the animal's condition will only be made by a panel of experts later today, according to the health ministry.
Ministry officials said Friday evening that the third case of the illness, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was discovered at a meat inspection center in the city of Saitama, adding that the infected 68-month-old Holstein was born and raised in neighboring Gunma Prefecture.
Saitama Prefectural Government officials said the cow tested positive in two tests for the disease as part of a blanket screening program initiated Oct. 18 on the carcasses of all slaughtered cows after the first case was confirmed in September.