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U.S. says it's investigating
another possible case of mad cow
July 27, 2005
By Beth Gorham
The Canadian Press
Washington, D.C. (CP) - There's another possible mad cow case in the United States in what is likely a home-grown animal, U.S. officials said Wednesday.
Samples from the cow, which was
at least 12 years old, were actually taken in April on a
remote farm but a private veterinarian forgot to
send them to the U.S. Department of Agriculture until last week.
"While the time lag is not
optimal, it has no implications in terms
of the risk to human health," said John Clifford,
the department's chief vet.
Results of further tests, expected next week,
will reveal for certain whether the animal had the disease. A positive
result would bring the number of confirmed U.S. mad cow cases to
three, one in a Canadian-born cow.
"All
indications we have suggest this is a domestic
animal," said Clifford, who noted the cow died during calving and
did not enter the human food chain or animal feed supply.
"This should not have any effect on trade
with Canada."
Stan Eby, president of the Canadian Cattlemen's
Association, echoed that view.
"As far as trade is concerned and the
activity at the border here that we've seen open up, I see no change
there," he said from Kamloops, British Columbia.
"The USDA rule took that into consideration
that there could be a few more cases on either side of the border. I
don't see any reason for border closures or impediments. Consumer
confidence appears to be solid."
Trade in young cattle under 30 months of age,
thought to be at lowest risk for mad cow disease, finally resumed
earlier this month for the first time since May 2003.
U.S. officials closed the border after the first
of Canada's own three mad cow cases was announced.
Meanwhile, Montana could be headed for a
showdown with the USDA over plans to test Canadian cattle entering the
state and charge a fee of $3 to $5 US per animal.
Sarah Elliott, spokesman for Montana Governor
Brian Schweitzer, said Wednesday officials will conduct extra
inspections on all Canadian cows destined to remain in the state,
although the federal department has said it's unnecessary.
Montana also intends to send a letter to all
other states this week encouraging them to do the same.
"We want to make sure we're protecting our
cattle industry and our consumers," said Elliott.
The extra measures will include checking the
animals to determine age, whether they're pregnant and if they have a
Canadian brand.
Breaking the seal on cross-border trucks
destined for slaughter houses or feed lots is illegal, said a USDA
spokesman who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"It would interfere with
international trade. We'll just have to see what they
do."
The latest potential case of mad cow, the common
name for bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, will be confirmed
with more tests at an international laboratory in Weybridge, England.
Samples of the brain tissue were preserved, so
only one type of sophisticated screening can be performed, said
Clifford.
The cow was born before restrictions on
cattle feed, thought to be the prime way to halt the spread
of BSE, started in August 1997.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered
the border reopened July 14, overturning a temporary court order
issued in March by U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull in Montana.
Cebull was supposed to conduct a hearing
Wednesday on the long-term fate of the cattle trade -- but
canceled it while awaiting the high court's written opinion.
Released Monday, the
tough opinion strongly backed Canadian cattle and rejected
"alarmist" legal arguments about mad cow fears from U.S.
ranching group R-CALF.
Cebull has not said whether he will dismiss R-CALF's
case or reschedule a hearing.
Canada's industry lost some $7 billion Cdn
during the mad cow crisis.
But Ontario cattle producers said Wednesday
they're now better positioned to compete internationally with the
United States because of a stronger ability to process and ship beef
abroad.
People who eat meat tainted with BSE can
contract a fatal brain disorder called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease.
Copyright 2005, The Canadian Press.
US
says it's investigating another possible case of mad cow
CBC News - WASHINGTON (CP) - There's another possible mad cow case in the United States in what is likely a home-grown animal, US officials said Wednesday. Samples from the cow, which was at least 12 years old, were ... US probes possible mad cow case Possible case of mad cow investigated |