April 17, 2006

Canada confirms BSE in cow; starts tracing of sources

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said in a press release it is searching for relatives of the infected cow and is conducting a thorough examination of potential sources of infection.

The infected animal was born after Canada implemented a feed ban prohibiting ruminant material in cattle feed, but the CFIA will pay "particular attention to the feed to which the animal may have been exposed early in its life".

"Although the design, implementation and compliance of Canada's feed ban have been rigorously assessed by a number of countries over the past several years, and have been described as robust and effectively enforced, the government is committed to continuously making improvements where possible," the CFIA release said.

US Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, in a statement issued Sunday (Apr 16), said the USDA will dispatch an animal health expert to Canada Monday to assist with the epidemiologic investigation.

"Information gathered through this investigation will help us to determine what, if any, impact this should have on our beef and live cattle trade with Canada. Based on the information currently available, I do not anticipate a change in the status of our trade," Johanns said.

"It is important to note that Canada's monitoring system identified this animal as one that should be removed from the food and feed supply chain, ensuring food safety continues to be protected," Johanns said in the statement.

Since 2003, Canada's national surveillance programme for BSE has tested more than 100,000 animals considered high-risk for the brain wasting disease. Only five BSE-positive animals have been found during the surveillance programme, the CFIA said.