What does the cryptic crossword clue "Missing worker catches mad cow disease (6)" mean?

The definition is "disease". The wordplay uses a container (one word inside another). BSE (synonym="Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy – mad cow disease") in ANT (synonym="worker") = ABSENT; definition: "Missing" The answer is ABSENT.

Missing worker catches mad cow disease (6)

Guardian Cryptic #28921 | 5 Down | 2022-11-22 flower

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