U.S. Upset By Canada's 7th BSE Case

OTTAWA - Jul 14/06 - SNS -- The United States reacted poorly to news a seventh cow in Canada has been diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

The animal was first reported on July 10 based on preliminary test results and further testing has confirmed the presence of the disease, says the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said the diagnosis of BSE in an animal born roughly four and half years after the implementation of the 1997 ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban does raise questions that must be answered.

"We need a thorough understanding of all the circumstances involved in this case to assure our consumers that Canada's regulatory system is effectively providing the utmost protections to consumers and livestock," Johanns said.

"I am dispatching a USDA expert to participate in the investigation of this case, particularly as it relates to how this animal may have been exposed to BSE infected material. We have been assured by our Canadian counterparts that they welcome having our experts participate side-by-side with their investigators."

For its part, the CFIA says the case is "consistent with the experiences of most countries reporting cases of BSE. Nonetheless, a full accounting and determination of how this animal was exposed to BSE will be the primary focus of the CFIA's investigation. The CFIA has extended an invitation to American animal health officials to participate in this effort."