杏吧原创

An 鈥渙utbreak鈥� of mad cow disease in Japan has so far cost the country
$500 million per infected cow, or $1.5 billion in total (200
billion yen). Despite only three confirmed cases, the country鈥檚 farmers and food
outlets are racking up huge losses, says the agriculture minister, Tsutomu
Takebe. Butchers鈥� shops hit by consumer panic accounted for almost half the
losses, with the remainder split between farmers and Korean barbecue
restaurants. The government has softened the farmers鈥� losses with subsidies.
Japan鈥檚 first confirmed BSE case was in September, and two cows have tested
positive since.