First Case Of Mad Cow Disease Discovered In U.S.

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WASHINGTON, U.S., December 24, 2003: The Bush administration scrambled Wednesday to trace the life of the first U.S. cow believed infected with mad cow disease and contain the growing economic and political damage from a now-suspect food supply. Country after country slapped import bans on American beef as U.S. officials assured consumers their Christmas roasts and fast-food hamburgers were safe to eat, reports this New York Times article. “The risk to human life is extremely low,” Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman told reporters. Federal and state-level officials worked to trace the Holstein’s history before it came to its last home, a large dairy operation near Mabton in southern Washington state, in 2001. USDA chief veterinarian Ron DeHaven said officials have identified two livestock markets in Washington where the animal could have been purchased, but he did not identify them. Information today indicates the cow came from Alberta, Canada, also the location of Canada’s single case of mad cow disease. In the course of the publicity, it has been revealed that some cows in the US are still fed beef by-products in their feed, which is the means by which the disease is transmitted. Also it was revealed that while all suspect cows in Europe are tested for mad cow disease, only a small percentage of those in the US showing symptoms at the time of slaughter are tested.