Mad Cow Disease Found in Cow in Canada

by Sherry Morse

Tests conducted last week at a laboratory in the United Kingdom confirmed that a cow slaughtered in the Canadian province of Alberta in January had bovine spongiform encephalopathy, which is more commonly known as mad cow disease.

The animal was tested because she had showed signs of being ill.

"The cow was 8 years old," said Canadian Food Inspection Agency veterinarian Dr. Debbie Barr, who is conducting an investigation to determine how the animal became infected. "We know that for the past three years the cow had been on a farm in northern Alberta. The critical issue for us now is where the cow spent the (first) five years."

All of the other members of the herd to which the animal had belonged have been slaughtered. In addition, 13 herds kept nearby have been placed under quarantine.

United States Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman announced on Wednesday that imports of live cows, goats and sheep and meat products from Canada had been temporarily banned as a precaution.

"Information suggests that...the possibility of transmission to animals in the United States is very low," said Veneman.

The governments of Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia have imposed similar import bans.

An animal afflicted with mad cow disease had not been discovered in Canada since 1993.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.