News Release
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Contact:
Glenn N. Slack |
NIAA
supports prompt, effective investigation of BSE diagnosis in Washington
State
BOWLING
GREEN, Ky. -- The National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA)
supports the rapid response being taken by federal and state animal health
officials to isolate the nation's first case of bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE), a rare neurological disease of cattle. Earlier
today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that
the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa diagnosed a
presumptive positive case of BSE in an adult Holstein cow in the state of
Washington. The sample is
being sent to the world reference laboratory in England for final
confirmation. "The
finding of this isolated case is a result of a strong BSE surveillance
system that has been at work in our country since 1990," said NIAA
Chairman of the Board Dr. Kenneth E. Olson.
"Due to proactive measures that have been in place for several
years, the risk of BSE spreading to other animals or humans in the U.S. is
low." A
comprehensive risk assessment conducted by the Harvard Center for Risk
Analysis in 2001 concluded that, in the event that BSE is found, the
likelihood of the disease spreading in any significant way is
exceptionally low based on safeguards in place in the U.S.
Earlier this year, a Harvard review of the earlier risk assessment
reached the same conclusion. While
the generally accepted theory is that animals get BSE from infected animal
protein fed to cattle, the source of infection in this case has not yet
been determined. Infected
tissues from the cow were rendered, with only skeletal muscle meat
products – deemed safe for human consumption – possibly entering the
food chain. "We support USDA and its team of experts in taking all appropriate actions in the coming days to determine the entry of BSE into the U.S. and contain its spread to other cattle," Olson said. "In the mean time, consumers can remain confident in the safety of our food supply."
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