July 28, 2005

Another possible US BSE case

A month after the last BSE cow found in Texas, the USDA announced on Jul 27 that the disease might have showed up in another cow-this time a 12-year old homegrown cow that died during calving.

USDA Chief Veterinarian John Clifford said initial rapid screening tests for BSE on the animal were inconclusive.

Though samples from the cow were obtained in April, a private veterinarian forgot to send them to the USDA till last week.

The samples will now be retested at a federal animal health laboratory in Iowa, US, with results expected next week. If confirmed, the animal would be the third BSE case in the US.

The USDA also assured that the cow did not enter the human food chain or animal feed supply.