BSE discovered in cow

Posted on May 3, 2007 by Mad Cow

VICTORIA – The discovery of a dairy cow infected with mad cow disease has prompted the quarantine of a Surrey-area farm.

Agriculture Minister Pat Bell said the case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered last week, and confirmed with additional test results revealed Wednesday. It's the second case for B.C., following the discovery of an infected cow on a Chilliwack-area farm in April 2006.

BSE is not transmitted from one animal to another, but rather through feed containing protein from an infected animal. The use of animal proteins in feed was banned in 1998, following a widespread outbreak of the illness in cattle in the United Kingdom.

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USDA says Canadian mad cow case won't impact trade

Posted on February 8, 2007 by Mad Cow

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A day after Canada announced its ninth case of mad cow disease, the United States on Thursday said beef trade with its northern neighbor would be unaffected with regulators promising to press ahead with a draft rule to allow older Canadian cattle back in the country.

"Based on what is known at this time, I would not expect this Canadian detection to impact our trade with Canada," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said in a statement.

Tests released on Wednesday confirmed mad cow disease in a mature bull in Alberta. A senior veterinary official with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the animal appears to have been born in 2000. No meat from the animal entered the food chain.

Canada has reported nine cases of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), in its domestic herd since May 2003. All the animals are believed to have contracted the disease from contaminated feed, a primary way mad cow can spread.

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