Cattle consumption confirmed on a livestock farm in East Flanders – Agriholland

The Belgian federal agency for the safety of the food chain FASFC has discovered that cattle tuberculosis is on a livestock farm with 14 cows in East Flanders. Although Belgium has had disease-free status for bovine tuberculosis since June 2003, outbreaks still occur from time to time. The FASFC conducts the usual epidemiological investigation. This finding is not expected to have any impact on Belgium’s disease-free status. Then there must be several breaks.

The disease was found in two-year-old cows born on that livestock farm. After injury, PCR analysis was performed in the slaughterhouse and Sciensano determined that the animal was positive for tuberculosis.

Cattle tuberculosis is a slowly progressive disease characterized by emaciation with increasing respiratory problems. The cattle do not usually die of tuberculosis. They are killed beforehand and the disease is then detected at the slaughterhouse.

Cattle do not recover from tuberculosis. Vaccination against bovine tuberculosis is prohibited. The disease is transmitted from one animal to another, mostly through the air and to a lesser extent through digestion. Cattle disease is often asymptomatic.