U.S. bans some Mexican cattle over TB worries

Laredo Morning Times ^ | 05/25/05 | LIBBY QUAID

[SwinneySwitch]

WASHINGTON - The United States is banning cattle imports from Durango, Mexico, because it lacks adequate safeguards against bovine tuberculosis, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said Tuesday.

Mexico ships more cattle to the U.S. than any other country, and Durango accounts for about 17 percent of Mexican cattle shipments, on average. In 2004, of the 1.2 million head shipped from Mexico to the U.S., 226,180 came from Durango, according to the Agriculture Department.

The animal lung disease can be transmitted to humans, but that happens rarely now because of eradication programs and milk pasteurization. A hunter in Michigan was diagnosed with bovine TB in January after cutting his hand while he gutted an infected deer. The disease is highly contagious among animals.

The problem is that Durango is not adequately segregating its cattle destined for the U.S., the department said.

Durango's dairy heifers have moved from the region where TB has been confirmed, which cannot ship cattle to the U.S., into the region where shipments are allowed, the department said.

Johanns said he spoke with his Mexican counterpart, Javier Usabiaga, on Monday evening.

"He fully understands the safety concerns that prompted our action," Johanns said in a statement. "He also expressed his appreciation for our willingness to assist Mexico with corrective measures so we can resume normal trade with Durango."

To resume trade with the U.S., Durango must confine at-risk dairy heifers, quarantine and test animals in any operation that has received at-risk cattle and quarantine and test herds that have an animal confirmed to have TB, the department said.

[tertiary01]

I wonder how much Mexican cheese made from the milk of these infected cows is finding it's way into the US.