July 14, 2006

 

Canada reports seventh case of mad cow disease

 

 

Canada on Thursday (Jul 13) confirmed its seventh case of mad cow disease since 2003, its second case in two weeks.

 

Canada's latest case was that of a 50-month-old dairy cow from a farm in western Alberta. The USDA has said it would send an inspector to aid in the investigation into the death.

 

Last week, another Albertan cow also died of mad cow disease.

 

US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said the deaths raise questions that must be answered.

 

Johanns added that a thorough understanding of the circumstances surrounding the case is needed to assure consumers that Canada's regulatory system could protect consumers and livestock, Johanns said.

 

The cow, part of a herd of 300 head of cattle on an Edmonton-area farm, was among 170 other cows that would now be tested for the disease. Those animals were born within a year of the diseased cow and are either on the same farm or have been sold to other farms.

 

The food inspection agency's senior veterinarian George Luterbach said even if milk from the dairy cow was consumed by humans it would pose no threat as it is not known to be at risk of transmission of the disease, Luterbach said.

 

Eating meat products contaminated by mad cow disease has been linked to more than 150 human deaths, mostly in Britain.

 

Chuck Kiker, president of Billings, Mont.-based R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America said the USDA ordered the border reopened to Canadian cattle too soon.

 

The USDA should close the border to all Canadian beef and cattle and work with Canada to determine the full scope of the problem through mandatory testing, Kiker said in a statement.

 

The Canadian Cattlemen's Association estimated its 90,000 members had lost more than $5.6 billion in the 30-month ban.

 

The US has previously said it would not close the border to Canadian cattle unless 11 cases of mad cow disease were detected over a four-year period. Yesterday's case would be the seventh.

 

Canada implemented a feed ban in 1997 that prohibited the use of cattle parts in certain animal feeds. Last month, that ban was extended to include all types of animal feed, pet food and fertilizers.

 

The latest case discovered means the four-year-old cow came into contact with mad cow disease after the 1997 feed ban. Government officials said this is typical and that sporadic cases would continue to be found.