A goat in France is the first ever to have contracted BSE (mad cow disease), French officials from the Agriculture Ministry have announced. So far, only cows have ever had BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) anywhere in the world.

Many believe that BSE can be transmitted to humans who eat infected meat - the human form is called bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or vCJD. vCJD is a fatal disease.

Authorities in Europe have not recommended there be any change in the consumption and/or production of goat's meat.