Tests Confirm 2nd Mad Cow Case In U.S.
Official Says Animal Didn't Enter Food Supply
POSTED: 12:39 pm PDT June 24,
2005
UPDATED: 1:47 pm PDT June 24,
2005
Tests have confirmed the second case of mad cow disease in the United States.
The Agriculture Department said tests confirmed mad cow disease in a U.S. cow previously cleared of having the brain-wasting illness.
"The results confirm the presence of (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in this animal," Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said at a Friday news conference.
Video: Ag Secretary Says U.S. Beef Supply Is World's Safest
The cow in question was blocked from the food supply in November 2004. Johanns said a laboratory in England confirmed the case after U.S. tests produced conflicting results. The department has come under fire for not resolving conflicting test results on the cow in November.This is the second case of mad cow disease in the United States. The first case confirmed in in 2003 involved a dairy cow imported from Canada. Mad cow disease has killed about 150 people worldwide, mostly in Britain.Johanns said human health is not at risk, since the animal was a "downer," meaning it was unable to walk. Such animals are banned from the food supply."I am encouraged that our interlocking safeguards are working exactly as intended," he said. "This animal was blocked from entering the food supply because of the firewalls we have in place."Johanns said from now on, the Agriculture Department will do more sensitive tests as a matter of routine. He also directed USDA scientists to work with international experts to develop a new protocol that includes performing dual confirmatory tests should there be another inconclusive test.DNA testing is under way to determine the origin of the animal, although it was at least 8 years old -- before the United States instituted a ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban in August 1997, said Dr. Danny Matthews, the mad cow disease program coordinator for the United Kingdom. Research has found that feed containing meat-and-bone meal is the primary way mad cow disease is transferred to the cattle population."We must remember that we are talking about a single case -- one sample. And it has been subject now to a tremendous amount of testing," Johanns said.He said 1,000 cows are tested for mad cow disease each day as part of the enhanced surveillance program that was put into effect after the first U.S. case of the disease was confirmed in December 2003. Of the 388,000 tests conducted as part of the program, only three have come back inconclusive -- and only one has come back positive, Johanns said."U.S. beef is safe, plain and simple," Johanns said. "I enjoyed beef this noon for lunch."
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Video: Ag Secretary Says U.S. Beef Supply Is World's SafestThe cow in question was blocked from the food supply in November 2004. Johanns said a laboratory in England confirmed the case after U.S. tests produced conflicting results. The department has come under fire for not resolving conflicting test results on the cow in November.This is the second case of mad cow disease in the United States. The first case confirmed in in 2003 involved a dairy cow imported from Canada. Mad cow disease has killed about 150 people worldwide, mostly in Britain.Johanns said human health is not at risk, since the animal was a "downer," meaning it was unable to walk. Such animals are banned from the food supply."I am encouraged that our interlocking safeguards are working exactly as intended," he said. "This animal was blocked from entering the food supply because of the firewalls we have in place."Johanns said from now on, the Agriculture Department will do more sensitive tests as a matter of routine. He also directed USDA scientists to work with international experts to develop a new protocol that includes performing dual confirmatory tests should there be another inconclusive test.DNA testing is under way to determine the origin of the animal, although it was at least 8 years old -- before the United States instituted a ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban in August 1997, said Dr. Danny Matthews, the mad cow disease program coordinator for the United Kingdom. Research has found that feed containing meat-and-bone meal is the primary way mad cow disease is transferred to the cattle population."We must remember that we are talking about a single case -- one sample. And it has been subject now to a tremendous amount of testing," Johanns said.He said 1,000 cows are tested for mad cow disease each day as part of the enhanced surveillance program that was put into effect after the first U.S. case of the disease was confirmed in December 2003. Of the 388,000 tests conducted as part of the program, only three have come back inconclusive -- and only one has come back positive, Johanns said."U.S. beef is safe, plain and simple," Johanns said. "I enjoyed beef this noon for lunch."
USDA's Statement Previous Stories:
- June 13, 2005: Reason For New Mad Cow Tests Remains Unknown
- June 10, 2005: U.S. Investigating Possible Case Of Mad Cow Disease
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