USDA quietly declares emergency in Washington state

Sacramento Bee ^ | January 16, 2004 | LES BLUMENTHAL

[Freebird Forever]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has quietly declared an "extraordinary emergency" because of the discovery of a Holstein infected with mad cow disease in Washington state - a move that will give federal officials additional authority to quarantine herds and destroy cattle.

[Freebird Forever]

Under the declaration, the federal government will have authority to hold, seize, treat, destroy - including "preventative" slaughter - and dispose of any animal or facility necessary to prevent the spread of BSE. The Agriculture Department also will have enhanced quarantine powers, powers that normally reside with the state.

Hmmm

Things are starting to get interesting up in WA state.

[Diogenesis]

Because the DOA ONLY tests 2 year old cows, and will not
test all suspected cows,
inadequate protection has been, and will be, give, to Americans at risk.

[Ditter]

I thought the only way this disease was passed was from diseased feed. Does it also pass from infected animals to healthy animals?

[Jan Kees]

For those of us familiar with the British experience of BSE, the sequence of American events looks hauntingly familiar.

[Freebird Forever]

Does it also pass from infected animals to healthy animals?

To the best of my understanding, that has not yet been conclusively determined.

With a similar infection, chronic wasting disease, that occurs in deer and elk, it may be possible. But that is not yet proved either.

[ex-Texan]

This why I only eat Kosher beef. The local stores here in Oregon quickly are selling out their Kosher hot dogs. Guess the word is spreading.

[traumer]

"It's not a big deal," Jim Rogers, a spokesman for the department......

[agrace]

Hmm, wonder why, any idea? My father has worked for the DOA for about 40 years, I think I'll see what he has to say about that.

He's no fan of the media (understatement), so his response to many of these articles is that typically they tend to be overstated. Although I haven't talked to him about the mad cow issue since Christmas so things may have gotten a bit more serious in his opinion since then.

[md2576]

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) reportedly plans an advertising campaign that will imply that chickens are as much at risk as cows for such diseases - and that people should stop eating chicken as well as meat.

[Chad Fairbanks]

That's ok. In reponse, I'll just start a advertising campaign that says we should all cook and eat People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals...Since they are all Vegans, we know they havn't eaten any "Bad Meat", and thus are safe for human consumption... as long as they are cleaned thoroughly first...

[randog]

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) reportedly plans an advertising campaign that will imply that chickens are as much at risk as cows for such diseases - and that people should stop eating chicken as well as meat.

This is a follow-up to their campaign to get people to stop eating all vegetables after green onions were found to be infected with hepatitis, right?

[sleeporacle]

Peta can eat my Peta

[mewzilla]

For those of us familiar with the British experience of BSE, the sequence of American events looks hauntingly familiar.

FWIW, it doesn't to me, though. If I understand the regs correctly, in addition to (the admittedly small) number of cows tested, the feed gets tested as well. Contaminated feed would show up long before infected cows. I think these cattle are being quarantined just to calm fears and be on the safe side. No bad thing. But we know a lot more now than we did in the 80s and 90s. And I don't think anyone wants to experience financial losses like those again.

[_Jim]

Things are starting to get interesting up in WA state.

Where have you been - this has been on-going for awhile now.

All that's new is this:

The emergency, which applies only in Washington state, became effective retroactively on Jan. 6.

Despite the increased federal powers, Rogers said that most importantly, the declaration will allow the department to pay farmers for any losses associated with the disease.

[Soulfull]

I watched a program on dinosaurs. They said they could tell the vegetarians by their small brain and large gut. I would assume that would apply to the PETA types also.

[In_25_words_or_less]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has quietly declared an "extraordinary emergency"

"HEY GUYS, LET'S QUIETLY DECLARE AN EXTRAORDINARY EMERGENCY!"

"WHAT?"

"I SAID, 'HEY GUYS, LET'S QUIETLY DECLARE . . .'."

[Freebird Forever]

Where have you been

The only place that really matters.

TEXAS