Canada confirmed on Tuesday it had uncovered a new case of mad cow disease but said the animal in question, a beef cow from Alberta, had not entered the human or animal food systems.
The first case of "mad cow" was last year. The American government closed its borders to Alberta beef until Canadian cows were consistently free and clear of the disease.
Just last month, the American government reopened the borders. Now suddenly, another cow with the disease has been discovered.
When the first case broke out last year, it was reported that the cow got the disease from eating foreign feed that was contaminated with ground cow carcass remains.
From what I understand, the cow that now has the disease, is a dairy cow. Because American borders were reopened last month, I hope all Americans pay extra attention when purchasing beef and dairy products, to make sure it didn't come from Canada.
News of a third mad cow case in Canada has prompted the United States to send a team here to evaluate whether the border should be re-opened to live Canadian cattle in March.
"As always, protection of public and animal health is our top priority,'' Ron DeHaven, administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, told The Canadian Press.
The investigation will be used to decide the appropriate next steps, he said.
DeHaven noted this latest case occurred in a cow born shortly after the implementation of a feed ban in 1997.
"... To determine if there are any potential links among the positive animals, we will expedite sending a technical team to Canada to evaluate the circumstances surrounding these recent finds," he said.
Minister's news conference
Earlier in the day, federal Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell briefed journalists on the latest discovery.
"You are now aware that a third case has been confirmed today through our surveillance system," he said in Ottawa.
Mitchell called the discovery "not unexpected." Though this is the second case found in 10 days, it's not related to the case confirmed earlier this month.
He confirmed the cow was born after the feed ban.
"Preliminary data indicates the source of the infection was contaminated feed made prior to the feed ban," Mitchell explained.
Although the feed rules -- which eliminated cattle remains believed to carry a high risk of BSE-transmission from the nutrient mix -- predated the birth of the infected cow, Canadian Food Inspection Agency veterinarian Dr. Brian Evans said it's no cause for panic.
"Finding an animal of this age is entirely consistent with the types of cases we expected to find in North America through our targeted-surveillance program," Evans told reporters.
The cow's farm of origin has also been identified, and no part of the infected animal made its way into the human or animal food supply, he added.
It is believed that humans can contract the fatal variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from eating BSE-contaminated meat.
The trade ban
When a single Alberta cow was diagnosed with the incurable illness in May, 2003, the news prompted a swift reaction from some of Canada's biggest trading partners. The ensuing trade bans, especially with the United States, have since cost the Canadian industry an estimated $5 billion.
But, less than two weeks ago, the industry was given new hope with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it would reopen the American border to live, young Canadian cattle in early March.
The timing proved unfortunate, however, as it coincided with the confirmation of a second BSE-infected dairy cow in Alberta.
That case, Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials said, meant at least nine related cows would be tested for the disease.
Although the U.S. regulator said it would go ahead with plans to restart trade anyway, the discovery has stirred nervous rumblings south of the border.
On Monday, a U.S. cattle group R-Calf United Stockgrowers filed a federal lawsuit demanding the USDA reconsider its decision.
Allowing Canadian beef products, they argue, would not only pose a risk for consumers, but also send cattle prices into a sharp decline.
There has been one confirmed case of BSE in the U.S., but it was traced to a Canadian-born dairy cow.
The two other cases of BSE in Canada occurred in cattle born before feed rules were revamped to prevent the spread of the disease in 1997.
Despite the persistent Canadian connection, Mitchell told reporters Tuesday he still expects the U.S. border to open as planned in March.
"From our perspective we believe that it should," Mitchell said, expressing confidence in "science-based" decisions. But he also conceded that American officials will respond after they've had time to reflect on this latest information.
As a signal of Ottawa's commitment to the issue in the meantime, the Agriculture Minister said he has ordered six measures that include determining exactly how the cow was infected and assuring international trade partners that Canadian beef is safe.
International experts will also be invited, Mitchell said, to conduct a comprehensive audit of Canada's animal feed system before the border is due to be reopened in March.
Under World Health Organization guidelines, so-called minimal risk countries such as Canada can retain that status even with as many as 11 reported cases in a 12-month period.
Apparently there was a rumour that the original crisis in Canada was possibly from a cow that came TO Canada FROM the U.S., but that was never verified, I think...
Also, it is said that the reason for the release on the beef ban that the U.S. imposed on Canada, was because Canada had agreed (through Paul Martin, our Prime Minister) to make it illegal to sell medication to people in the U.S. So, it was a mutual agreement, benefitting both countries. Now, I think Canada is still obliged to make the deal, while the U.S. doesn't have to follow through now that Canada's beef supply is "tainted"...
It might not be true, but it IS an interesting rumour...
daemon17 said this in post #7 : I'm glad I'm a vegetarien..
I eat meat (mostly chicken and turkey)...but for the past few years, Ive been heading towards being a vegetarian. I wont eat soy products (nasty), but I do eat more white rice than anything else and Im always good to go with just that for a meal all by itself....with added veggies of course.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
the_way_it_is said this in post #3 : Yes, it is very weird!
The first case of "mad cow" was last year. The American government closed its borders to Alberta beef until Canadian cows were consistently free and clear of the disease.
I remember that...the mad cow thing freaked me out. Good thing Im not a big beef eater because this is giving me the willies again just thinking about it.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
I'm very glad that I've been a vegan for many years, but all of my family and friends are meat, dairy and other animal product and by-product eaters. I'm concerned for their well-being. They seem to think that two or three cows testing positive for BSE can't possibly be cause for alarm enough to justify sacrificing a tasty meal.
I'm also concerned for the well-being of the cows. They're kind of cute!
Sierradaddy said this in post #12 : How is buffalo meat better for you than beef? Are you referring to the lower amount of growth hormones because buffalo is a smaller market than beef?
"Another interesting fact he makes about buffalo is the health benefits that come with it. Not only does it have 70% to 90% less fat compared to beef, on average it has 50% less cholesterol. And on top of that, it is higher in protein, iron and all the omega and amino acids. Wow, my doctor may be prescribing buffalo pretty soon.
And did you know that because they are naturally resistant to disease and grow faster than domestic animals, they don't need all the antibiotics and growth hormones that are typically given to beef cattle?"
I have high cholesterol and it's a better choice than beef given that fact alone.
01-11-2005 08:12 PM
