HIRATSUKA, Japan, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Japanese authorities said a dairy cow from Hiratsuka, Japan, is highly likely to have been infected with mad cow disease.
The cow was born in the Kanagawa Prefecture March 17, 1996, and had been recently purchased by a Hiratsuka dairy with about 60 other cows.
The animal was taken to the slaughterhouse about a week ago after it became unable to stand, dislocated its hip and broke a front leg, the Japan Times reported.
Japan requires all beef for human consumption be tested for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, known as mad cow disease. If final tests are positive for mad cow, the Japanese Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will place the farm under quarantine and conduct an inspection.
A preliminary test Friday found the cow positive for the disease and a second test by Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases found it was highly likely the cow was infected.
If the cow is found positive the disease it would be the 10 cow stricken in Japan.
