http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5096753,00.html
Tests Confirm Second Mad Cow Case in U.S.
Friday June 24, 2005 8:46 PM
By LIBBY QUAID
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Tests have confirmed mad cow disease in a U.S. cow
previously cleared of having the brain wasting illness, the Agriculture
Department said Friday. It is the second case of mad cow disease in the
United States.
An internationally recognized laboratory in Weybridge, England,
confirmed the case of mad cow disease after U.S. tests produced
conflicting results, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said.
Human health was not at risk, Johanns said. The animal was a
``downer,'' meaning it was unable to walk. Such animals are banned from
the food supply.
New tests were ordered two weeks ago. Those results came back positive,
leading officials to seek confirmation from the Weybridge lab. The
department also performed more tests at its lab in Ames, Iowa.
The first case confirmed in the U.S. was in December 2003, a dairy cow
imported from Canada.
``I am encouraged that our interlocking safeguards are working exactly
as intended,'' Johanns said.
``This animal was blocked from entering the food supply because of the
firewalls we have in place. Americans have every reason to continue to
be confident in the safety of our beef,'' he said.
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TC