BSE                                     ...

BSE                                                                                                

USDA Concludes BSE Investigation

At a technical briefing on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), yesterday (Feb. 9) the USDA said it is ending its search for additional BSE cases even though officials have not found all the animals connected with the lone case in Washington State.

USDA’s Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief veterinary officer and deputy administrator for Veterinary Services said the “investigation is now complete. We feel very confident the remaining animals, the ones we have not been able to positively identify, represent little risk."

The BSE investigation was unable to locate 11 head of cattle among 25 that USDA authorities consider likely to have eaten the same potentially infectious feed given to a Washington state Holstein that tested positive for BSE in December.

DeHaven said that he was “very confident that the remaining animals, the ones that we were not able to positively identify, represent little risk.   First of all, many of them could have been included in that group of 220 that we couldn't rule out.  Secondly, even in countries like the UK where the prevalence of BSE has been very high it's been very uncommon to find more than one or perhaps two positive animals in an infected herd.  Any of those animals that would have gone to slaughter in the United States if they were non-ambulatory or showing any signs of nervous system disorder … consistent with an animal with clinical BSE, any of those animals would have been condemned at slaughter and not allowed into the human food chain.”

The 25 animals were among 81 born on an Alberta, Canada, farm and shipped into the United States in 2001. Officials have since found 29 of the 81, including 14 considered "most at risk."

DeHaven added that the search for the 81 cattle led authorities to 189 farms and ranches and the testing of 255 animals — none of which had BSE.

BSE                                                                                                

USDA Concludes BSE Investigation

At a technical briefing on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), yesterday (Feb. 9) the USDA said it is ending its search for additional BSE cases even though officials have not found all the animals connected with the lone case in Washington State.

USDA’s Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief veterinary officer and deputy administrator for Veterinary Services said the “investigation is now complete. We feel very confident the remaining animals, the ones we have not been able to positively identify, represent little risk."

The BSE investigation was unable to locate 11 head of cattle among 25 that USDA authorities consider likely to have eaten the same potentially infectious feed given to a Washington state Holstein that tested positive for BSE in December.

DeHaven said that he was “very confident that the remaining animals, the ones that we were not able to positively identify, represent little risk.   First of all, many of them could have been included in that group of 220 that we couldn't rule out.  Secondly, even in countries like the UK where the prevalence of BSE has been very high it's been very uncommon to find more than one or perhaps two positive animals in an infected herd.  Any of those animals that would have gone to slaughter in the United States if they were non-ambulatory or showing any signs of nervous system disorder … consistent with an animal with clinical BSE, any of those animals would have been condemned at slaughter and not allowed into the human food chain.”

The 25 animals were among 81 born on an Alberta, Canada, farm and shipped into the United States in 2001. Officials have since found 29 of the 81, including 14 considered "most at risk."

DeHaven added that the search for the 81 cattle led authorities to 189 farms and ranches and the testing of 255 animals — none of which had BSE.