Infected goat meat imported to Okinawa

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http://japanupdate.com/

 

13 Sep 2002

Infected goat meat imported to Okinawa

 

The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry say

that their inspectors had discovered that 19 goats

grown at a livestock farm in Nagano Prefecture had

been infected by a virus that affects their brain and

spinal cord. 15 of those had been exported to Okinawa

and their meat sold to various restaurants

specializing in goat dishes. Goat is a traditional

delicacy here.

 

However, officials at the ministry stress that

although the virus causes similar symptoms in the

goats as the BSE virus in cows, the virus has never

been observed to transfer to humans and cause

sickness.

 

Meanwhile, Okinawa Prefecture Domestic Animal

Environment Section officials are conducting an

investigation and are requesting more information from

the ministry.

 

Local proprietors of restaurants serving goat meals

worry that this will cause further decline in their

business. A similar scare a year ago forced many to

change their line of business and some are said to

have had to close altogether.

 

“Goat meat and other parts have been eaten here for

centuries, and no one has ever heard that it made

someone sick. The Tokyo and Prefecture officials

should come clear and tell people that it is safe to

eat goat dishes,” said Haruko Miyagi who operates a

goat dish restaurant in Heiwa Dori Shopping Mall area

in Naha City. “My mother and her grandmother before

that sold goat dishes. They are good and give you

strength especially in the summertime,” she assures.

 

 

 

 

 

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