MADCOW

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: USDA MAKES PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSIS OF BSE
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 18:37:54 -0600
From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr." <[email protected]>
To: BSE-L <[email protected]>
CC: CJDVOICE <[email protected]>, BLOODCJD <[email protected]>, [email protected]


Release No. 0432.03
Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623
Julie Quick (202) 720-4623

USDA MAKES PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSIS OF BSE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2003-Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has diagnosed a presumptive positive case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an adult Holstein cow in the state of Washington.

"Despite this finding, we remain confident in the safety of our beef supply," Veneman said. "The risk to human health from BSE is extremely low."

Because the animal was non-ambulatory (downer) at slaughter, samples were taken Dec. 9 as part of USDA's targeted BSE surveillance system. The samples were sent to USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. Positive results were obtained by both histology (a visual examination of brain tissue via microscope) and immunohistochemistry (the gold standard for BSE testing that detects prions through a staining technique). Test results were returned on Dec. 22 and retested on Dec 23.

USDA has initiated a comprehensive epidemiological investigation working with state, public health, and industry counterparts to determine the source of the disease. USDA will also work with the Food and Drug Administration as they conduct animal feed investigations, the primary pathway for the spread of BSE.

This investigation has begun while the sample is being sent to the world reference laboratory in England for final confirmation. USDA will take the actions in accordance with its BSE response plan, which was developed with considerable input from federal, state and industry stakeholders.

BSE is a progressive neurological disease among cattle that is always fatal. It belongs to a family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Also included in that family of illnesses is the human disease, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), which is believed to be caused by eating neural tissue, such as brain and spinal cord, from BSE-affected
cattle. USDA has determined that the cow comes from a farm in Washington State and as part of the USDA response plan, the farm has been quarantined. After the animal was slaughtered, the meat was sent for processing and USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service is working to determine the final disposition of products from the animal.

For more information visit www.usda.gov.

#

USDA News
[email protected]
202 720-9035
==============

Docket Management Docket: 02N-0273 - Substances Prohibited From Use in
Animal Food or Feed; Animal Proteins Prohibited in Ruminant Feed
Comment Number: EC -10
Accepted - Volume 2

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dai.../8004be07.html

PART 2

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dai.../8004be09.html

Asante/Collinge et al, that BSE transmission to the 129-methionine genotype can lead to an alternate phenotype that is indistinguishable from type 2 PrPSc, the commonest _sporadic_ CJD;

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/...3923s1_OPH.htm

PDF]Freas, William TSS SUBMISSION
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat -
Page 1. J Freas, William From: Sent: To: Subject: Terry S. Singeltary
Sr. [[email protected]] Monday, January 08,200l 3:03 PM freas ...

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/.../3681s2_09.pdf

TSS

seadog

Interesting turn of events. Seems to me Canada had 1 case of mad cow not to long ago. I wonder if Agriculture Canada will close the border to meat imports from the US, I wonder if Japan will stop importing meat products. Just a thought.