PARIS, Feb. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- French Agriculture Ministry announced in a statement on Sunday that two suspected cases of a rare strain of "mad sheep" disease have been identified in central France.

    Two suspected cases of a rare strain of the brain-wasting disease, which is also called Scrapie and ovine spongiform encephalopathy, have been identified on two different farms in central France, the ministry said.

    The ministry's statement said that one year of tests would be needed to have a final assessment of the disease.

    Scrapie was common in France in the 19th century, but only one case of the rare strain was publicly announced in a goat in 2004, an official for the French meat information Centre said.

    It is still unknown what the consequences are and in what conditions it is transmissible. Enditem