Contact: Lyndsay Cole (970) 494-7410
Update from APHIS Regarding Release of the Final Report on the BSE
Epidemiological Investigation
Today, USDA is releasing its final report on the epidemiological
investigation of a dairy cow from California that tested positive for bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in April 2012. This epidemiological report is
the result of months of close coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA),
local officials, and the associated dairy and rendering facility.
In accordance with World Organization for Animal Health guidance, USDA
conducted a thorough epidemiological investigation following the BSE detection.
This included on-the-ground investigations and records review from the rendering
facility, the index farm, and associated premises, as well as traceback for
progeny and birth cohorts of the index cow. The results of this thorough
investigation confirmed that at no time was the U.S. food supply or human health
at risk, and that the United States’ longstanding system of interlocking
safeguards against BSE continues to be effective.
This case was found in an animal that was sampled for the disease at a
rendering facility in central California. This animal was never presented for
slaughter for human consumption, so at no time presented a risk to the food
supply, or to human health in the United States.
The index animal was a 10 year 7 month-old Holstein cow from a central
California dairy. The animal was humanely euthanized after it developed lameness
and became recumbent, and was sampled by a renderer contracted to collect
samples as part of USDA’s ongoing BSE surveillance. Results from
immunohistochemistry and Western blot tests at USDA’s National Veterinary
Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed the animal positive for atypical BSE.
Samples were also sent to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
reference laboratories in Canada and England. The laboratories confirmed that
the index cow was positive for atypical (L-type) BSE.
As a result of on-the-ground investigation and records review, USDA and
CDFA identified only one live offspring of the cow, which was humanely
euthanized and found to be negative for BSE. No birth cohorts of the index
animal were found alive.
The carcass of the index animal (along with approximately 90 other
carcasses being held at the renderer’s transfer station), were disposed of in a
landfill in accordance with all Federal, State and local regulations. The
carcass of the index animal did not enter the human or animal food chain.
In conjunction with USDA’s investigation, FDA and CDFA conducted an
extensive feed investigation. Twelve feed suppliers were identified to the index
premises; one of which was no longer in business. The remaining 11 were found to
be in compliance with FDA and CDFA regulations and requirements. FDA has
released a full report on the feed investigation. It is available at
www.fda.gov.
The United States has a longstanding system of three interlocking
safeguards against BSE that protects human and animal health, the most important
of which is the removal of specified risk materials – or the parts of an animal
that would contain the BSE agent should an animal have the disease – from all
animals presented for slaughter in the United States. The second safeguard is a
strong feed ban that protects cattle from the disease. The third safeguard—which
led to this detection— is our ongoing BSE surveillance program that allows USDA
to detect the disease if it exists at very low levels in the U.S. cattle
population and provides assurances to consumers and our international trading
partners that the interlocking system of safeguards in place to prevent BSE are
working.
View Final Report
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SUMMARY REPORT CALIFORNIA BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY CASE
INVESTIGATION JULY 2012
Summary Report BSE 2012
Executive Summary
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Final Feed Investigation Summary - California BSE Case - July 2012
TSS
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