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  1. #1
    Senior Member jp_48504's Avatar
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    Albama Cow Tests Positive for Disease

    Albama Cow Tests Positive for Disease

    By LIBBY QUAID, AP Food and Farm Writer 42 minutes ago

    WASHINGTON - A cow in Alabama has tested positive for mad cow disease, the Agriculture Department confirmed Monday, the third case in the U.S.
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    The animal was a beef cow but hadn't entered the food supply for people or animals, said the department's chief veterinarian, John Clifford.

    A routine test last week had indicated the presence of the disease. Results were confirmed by more detailed testing at a government laboratory in Ames, Iowa, Clifford said.

    U.S. investigators have found two previous cases of mad cow disease. The first was in December 2003 in a Canadian-born cow in Washington state. The second was last June in a cow that was born and raised in Texas.

    The cow spent the past year at an Alabama farm, he said. The department is investigating where the animal was born and raised.

    The animal appears to have been at least 10 years old, Clifford said.

    Different types of tests indicated the presence of mad cow disease. Two versions of the initial "rapid" screening test suggested the cow had the disease, and a more detailed Western blot confirmed that finding. The department is still doing a third type of test, immunohistochemistry, or IHC, and will release those results later in the week.
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  2. #2
    Senior Member jp_48504's Avatar
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    U.S. plans to reduce mad cow testing

    Well at least now we know how they are going to stop the mad cow from spreading, they will look the other way. Isn’t that the same thing they are doing with illegal aliens?

    Wed, March 15, 2006
    U.S. plans to reduce mad cow testing

    By AP

    WASHINGTON -- Despite the confirmation of a third case of mad cow disease in the U.S., the American government intends to scale back testing for the brain-wasting disorder blamed for the deaths of more than 150 people in Europe.

    The U.S. Agriculture Department boosted its surveillance after finding the first case of mad cow disease in the U.S. in 2003.

    About 1,000 tests are run daily, up from about 55 daily in 2003.

    The testing program detected an infected cow in Alabama last week and further analysis confirmed Monday the animal had mad cow disease.

    Still, a reduction in testing has been in the works for months. The department's chief veterinarian, John Clifford, mentioned it when he announced the new case of mad cow disease.

    "As we approach the conclusion of our en-hanced surveillance program, let me offer a few thoughts," Clifford said, explaining the U.S. will follow international standards for testing.

    Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns pointed out testing is not a food safety measure. Rather, it's a way to find out the prevalence of the disease.

    "Keep in mind the testing was for surveillance," Johanns said.

    "It was to get an idea of the condition of the herd."

    Higher testing levels were intended to be temporary when they were announced two years ago.

    Yet consumer groups argue more animals should be tested, not fewer.

    Officials haven't finalized new levels but the department's budget proposal calls for 40,000 tests annually, or about 110 daily.

    "This would be a tenth of a percent of all animals slaughtered," Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union, said yesterday. "This starts to be so small that in our opinion, it approaches a policy of don't look, don't find."

    Iowa Senator Tom Harkin said the confidence of U.S. consumers and foreign customers is at risk if testing is reduced.
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