Volume 16: Reference Material
3. Statistics
Definition of key terms

3.4 The following definitions are based on information supplied to the Inquiry by Mr John Wilesmith, Head of the Epidemiology Department at the CVL/VLA:

Reported or suspect cases: cattle reported to MAFF (or to DANI in Northern Ireland) with clinical signs that might indicate BSE, and where the Veterinary Officer cannot rule it out.

Confirmed cases: those cases in which the diagnosis of BSE has been confirmed by histopathological examination of brain tissue or by electron microscopy examination for scrapie-associated fibrils (SAFs).

Date of clinical onset: the date on which the owner of a BSE-affected animal first notices clinical signs in the animal. This usually pre-dates notification to MAFF (see below) by between several weeks and six months.

Date of notification: the date on which the animal is reported to MAFF and has a Form A restriction (see Glossary) served on it.

Cases Born After the feed Ban (BABs): cases of BSE in animals born after the introduction of the ruminant feed ban on 18 July 1988.