India probes mad cow blood samples report
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-28 15:15

The Indian government is investigating reports that blood samples that could be contaminated with the human form of mad cow disease had entered the country from Britain, a top official said on Tuesday.

Britain's Times newspaper said Britain had exported thousands of blood product samples potentially contaminated with the human form of mad cow disease to 11 countries including India.

The blood products were donated by nine Britons who later died of the brain-wasting Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, the Times said.

"We have asked the drug controller to find out if the samples have come to India," Health Secretary J.V.R. Prasada Rao told Reuters.

"We have launched the probe. We have the arrangement to verify, if at all, these infected samples have come to India. We have to verify all the samples.

"Last year also there was a similar report and we found it to be not true," Rao said adding that Britain had not notified India that it was among the countries that could have imported the infected samples.

Close

Today's Top News     Top World News
Minister: North Korea has nuclear deterrent         Beijing mulls setting up anti-terror bureau         Bumper wheat crop boosts confidence         FM: China supports UNSC reform         ED patients get easier access to Viagra         Cakes take the bite of packaging	North Korea delegate warns of 'snowballing' war danger       Kenya wants most-protected status for lions       Asian economies starting to slow down       Pakistan makes more arrests after slaying militant       US oil hits $50 on Nigeria supply fears       Israelis kill 7 Palestinians; CNN crewman abducted