Monday, May 21, 2012

U.S. lifts BSE quarantine



The U.S. Department of Agriculture has lifted a quarantine on two dairy farms in California.

The quarantines were put in place when a cull cow tested positive for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, or mad cow’s disease).

The quarantine was lifted when the U.S.D.A.’s labs determined that the “atypical form” of BSE did not come in via feed.

The cow’s one surviving offspring of the last two years has been located, euthanized and tested negative for BSE.

The hunt is still on for perhaps a dozen birth cohort cattle that are still alive and should be screened for BSE.