Posted on 12/30/2004 5:57:41 AM PST by The Teen Conservative
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada said on Thursday it had discovered a suspected case of mad cow disease, but said the 10-year-old animal in question had not entered the human or animal feed system. The test is still preliminary, and final results will be ready in three to five days, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in a statement.
Ottawa announced the news one day after Washington said it planned to lift a ban on imports of young live Canadian cattle. The United States imposed the ban after a previous case of mad cow disease, or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), was discovered in Canada in May 2003.
"Preliminary BSE testing results completed late on Dec. 29, 2004 have identified a suspect 10-year-old dairy cow," the inspection agency said in a statement.
"Although the finding is not definitive, multiple screening tests have yielded positive results. No part of the animal entered the human food or animal feed systems," it added.
The statement did not say where the animal was located.
The CFIA said testing had been conducted after the cow was identified as a "downer," or a high-risk animal.
"This animal was born before the Canadian and American feed bans were introduced in 1997. If BSE is confirmed in this case, consumption of contaminated feed before 1997 remains the most likely route of transmission," it said.
The CFIA will be holding a briefing at 11 a.m. EDT (1600 GMT) on Thursday to give more details.
© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.
Didn't we just list part of the ban yesterday?
Mad cow disease in Canada would explain a lot of things coming out of their parliament...
Yes. U.S. announced plans for opening the border in March to nearly all Canadian beef exports.
Good point. It'd be a shame if they had to put down a certain MP. NOT!
No part but it's milk...
I think the ban was lifted for young animals? So I guess this poor critter wouldn't have made it in anyway.
It was ironic to see the "ban lifted" article in the newspaper this morning and a few minutes later the suspected new case on FR.
Rosie O'Donnell is in Canada?
It's an old animal, probably a dairy cow I'd guess and not a beef cow. Was not ever intended to be slaughtered for food I'd wager. I don't believe this will have any deterrance to the announcement and plans for border reopening. It shouldn't.
BTTT!!!!!
BTTT!!!!!
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