The United Kingdom has reported a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or 'mad cow' disease) in a animal in Somerset, marking the sixth instance since 2014. The disease, which was a global health concern in the 1980s and 1990s, is usually transmitted through contaminated animal protein feed. The affected animal has been slaughtered, and the incident has been reported to the World Organization for Animal Health and trading partners. The UK government asserts that the case does not pose a risk to food safety and does not impact meat export permissions. Meanwhile, Brazil's recent cases have not impacted beef exports to the UK.