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U.S. removed from world list of reported BSE cases
Montana
With a recent DNA analysis confirming that a Holstein cow discovered to have BSE in Washington did indeed originate in Canada, the Montana Cattlemen's Association is pleased to learn that the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has removed the United States from the list of countries with reported outbreaks of BSE and has instead placed the U.S. on the list of Countries/Territories having reported cases of BSE in imported animals only.
According to MCA President Paul Ringling, information sent last week to the OIE confirmed that the DNA analysis is that of an animal of Canadian origin. Ringling says, "This announcement is good news for the U.S. cattle producer. When Canada discovered a case of BSE in 1993, they were able to keep their BSE Free status because they traced the cow back and destroyed her offspring. Now, we're working on the same thing here and you can bet that cattle producers across the country will work hard to make sure that USDA gets the job done and we retain our BSE Free status."
MCA Director Scott Fraser says that it's interesting that OIE said this case was Canadian and not North American. He elaborated, saying "Since almost day one USDA and Canada have stressed this is North American problem, but now the USDA-APHIS report states, "This result makes the only BSE case in the United States an imported case."That's contrary to what Dr. Ron DeHaven's, Chief Veterinary Officer for USDA-APHIS, declared during a USDA BSE briefing session when he called the imported BSE case a "North American issue."If OIE says it's an imported case, then it's an imported case. There's nothing North American about it!"
The OIE is an organization of 165 member countries that serves as a watchdog for international animal disease outbreaks. Created by an International Agreement in 1924, each member country undertakes the responsibility to report animal diseases it detects in its territory. The OIE then disseminates the information to other countries, which can take the necessary preventive action.
The OIE differentiates the disease status of a country between native-born and imported cases of BSE. If a country can prove the infected animal was imported, then track and depopulate all offspring, the country maintains its BSE Free status.
Date: 1/29/04
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