A PRESTON farmer is urging people not to over-react to Government claims that 'mad cow' disease may have been transmitted to humans.

David Clarke, chairman of the National Union of Farmers in Lancashire, has called for calm and rubbished claims there could be an epidemic in humans on the scale of AIDS.

Last week the Government announcement BSE - bovine spongiform encephalopathy - may have been transmitted to humans.

But reports that the new strain of the human form of the condition, Creutzfelt-Jakob Disease, is likely to reach epidemic proportions has angered local farmers.

Mr Clarke said: "Claims that the problem is going to spread into a disease as big as AIDS are just not true. Nothing has been proven yet we will have to wait and see what happens over the next few months."

But Mr Clarke admitted the scare could spell disaster for many farmers - especially since many European countries have boycotted British beef.

This week Lancashire County Council extended its beef ban in school meals to include all secondary schools. Primary schools have been banned from serving beef on their menus since December.

Leader of LCC Louise Ellman said: "In the light of recent developments we are removing beef from all school menus until we get a definite decision from the Government.

"We are extending this ban in the interest of the safety of all our pupils in Lancashire schools."

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