Mad cow isolated in Canada?
2003-05-28 08:43
Ottawa - Canada's chief veterinary investigator hinted Tuesday that the search for the source and other cases of mad cow disease in Canada may soon be over, possibly opening the way for resumed international exports of Canadian beef.
Brian Evans with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency told reporters at a daily briefing that no possible source for the one instance of mad cow disease had been found.
Officials confirmed one week ago that a black Angus cow had the disease properly known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
A massive hunt for the source - and other possible cases - of mad cow disease in Canada was launched following the discovery. All tests on nearly 400 cattle, which had been slaughtered as part of the probe, had so far proven negative.
Evans said he hoped the current investigations could be completed "in about a week," but admitted he could give no definite time-line.
He said the investigation would be considered complete only when the agency was satisfied that all possible sources for the disease had been cleared and investigators were confident that no other potential sources existed.
Currently, there were about 1 900 animals in 17 herds in three provinces - Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia - under quarantine.
This week's testing has been concentrating on the use of DNA evidence to determine what other cattle may have been related to the diseased cow.
Evans also said they were looking into theories about the possibility that the Black Angus may have been "a spontaneous case" of mad cow disease, but said the likelihood of that were "about one in ten million".
Since last week, the agency has been carrying extensive inquiries into the cow's lineage, any calves she may have borne and where she had been herded.
Also, investigators were looking at the food supply chain that may have affected the diseased animal and any other animals that were fed from the same batches.
Canadian officials have insisted that the animal's carcass was never used for human food products, and therefore Canadian beef is safe for human consumption.
Nevertheless, several countries, including Canada's largest market for cattle and beef, the United States, have placed temporary bans on imports of Canadian beef and beef products.
Canada's $7.5bn a year cattle and beef industry has come to a near standstill since the discovery last week, which sources say may be costing it several million per day.
- AFX