Second cow tests positive for BSE, USA

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 29 Jun 2004 - 11:00 PDT

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A second cow in the US has produced an initial positive result for BSE. US officials are saying it is "very likely" the cow will turn out to be negative. However, in most countries, the test used is wrong about a positive result only about once in a thousand times.

The American Department of Agriculture released the result on Friday. It was the first positive test since the US began testing thousands of cattle for BSE on 1 June. The testing is in response to the discovery of its first mad cow in December 2003.

However, the USDA is calling the result "inconclusive" until it is confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) at the US's National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.

IHC is a highly reliable but slower BSE test. In a briefing on Friday, John Clifford, deputy head of the US Department of Agriculture's Veterinary Services Programme, said the IHC results will take four to seven days.

The USDA will only give the location of the animal was and why it was tested if that result comes back positive, said Clifford. The USDA is targeting animals that show BSE-like symptoms, or which die for unknown reasons, or are unable to stand. Such "high risk" cattle are 10 to 15 times more likely to have BSE.

More....The New Scientist

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