Mad Canadian Cows

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed a case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in a dairy cow from Alberta Province this past month. The cow was six years old and was destroyed due to its infection.

Canada has been affected by BSE since 2003, having a total of 18 cases. However, unlike the first occurrence, this episode is not expected to impact Canadian exports of beef because of Canada's monitoring system.

The World Organization for Animal Health continues to consider Canada a "controlled risk" area for BSE. Because a "negligible" BSE status cannot be obtained until eleven years after the most recent case, it will be at least a decade before Canada's risk status changes. Canada continues to expect occasional BSE cases as they continue to monitor.

-Autumn

Reference:  Case Western Reserve University (2011, March 9). New biomarker for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease identified. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 12, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110309182700.htm

Photo Link: http://www.yuksrus.com/Angry_Cow.jpg