A case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Aberdeenshire.

The instance of so-called "mad cow disease" is understood to affect only one animal and officials say there is no threat to human life.

A quarantine has been put in place at the farm, which STV News understands to be in Huntly, while further investigations to identify the origin of the disease take place.

Here's what you need to know.

What is Mad Cow Disease (BSE)?

Mad Cow Disease is the term commonly used for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).

It is a disease found in cattle that attacks the brain, destroying it and leading to the death of the animal.

BSE may be passed to humans who have eaten infected flesh, causing fatal Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

The time from when an animal becomes infected to the time it starts to show symptoms of the disease is called the 'incubation period'.

The incubation period for BSE is two to eight years. Once the animal becomes ill its health deteriorates until it either dies of the disease or is killed.

This can take any amount of time from two weeks to six months.

Most of the infected cows in the UK have been between four and five years old.

History of Mad Cow Disease in Scotland

BSE was first recognised and defined in the United Kingdom in November 1986 and was made a notifiable disease in June 1988.

Over the following few years the epidemic grew considerably and peaked in the UK in 1992 with over 37,000 cases.

Thousands of cows were piled up and burned as a result of the outbreak.

The worst years for cattle deaths from BSE in Scotland, England and Wales, was 1992 (36,680) and 1993 (34,370).

There have been over 183,000 cases to date UK wide.

The last case of the disease in Scotland was in 2009.

In the years before that, there were relatively low numbers of BSE cases compared to the peak of the epidemic in the early 1990s.

The marked decrease in the number of cases detected through passive surveillance is consistent with the long tail previously predicted by epidemiologists.

An active BSE surveillance programme started in 2001.

Risk status in Scotland

Last year the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recognised the official BSE risk status of Scotland as Negligible Risk, the lowest risk level.

This follows on from the Scottish Government's application to the OIE in 2016.

Following the announcement rural secretary Fergus Ewing said: "This is a landmark day for our red meat sector, with Scotland achieving the lowest possible risk status for BSE - negligible risk.

"This is reward for years of hard work from the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, producers, our red meat businesses, vets and this government, all of whom have worked tirelessly to build a failsafe system which protects our animal and public health.

"Scotland's meat exports are currently thriving and this certification stands us in good stead for our exporters to increase Scottish Beef exports even further."

How to spot Mad Cow Disease

Cattle with BSE may slowly develop some of the following signs over a period of weeks or months:

What to do if you suspect BSE

If one of your animals is showing signs of BSE you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301.

An APHA vet will visit your farm and carry out a veterinary assessment on the animal as soon as possible.