TOKYO - Japan confirmed Saturday its 15th case of mad cow disease since 2001, saying a Holstein born in the northern main island of Hokkaido had tested positive for the brain-wasting disease.
The 102-month cow was tested for mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), when it developed arthritis after stumbling, the farm ministry said in a statement.
Japan is the only Asian country to have confirmed cases of mad cow disease which decimated Britain's cattle industry in the 1990s.
It uncovered its first case in September 2001 and soon afterwards introduced measures to screen every cow which is slaughtered for consumption.
Japan halted imports of US beef in December 2003 after a cow infected with BSE was discovered in the US state of Washington. Before then, it was the top export market for US beef.
Farm minister Yoshinobu Shimamura said Friday Japan would work towards lifting the ban to prevent retaliation from Washington, where 20 senators have threatened sanctions unless Japan resumes buying US beef.
On February 4 Japan confirmed its first citizen to die from mad cow disease but said the man had contracted the condition in Britain, which has seen most cases.
02/26/2005 05:40 GMT