NEWS RELEASE
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966 •Austin, Texas 78711 • (800) 550-8242• FAX (512) 719-0719
Bob Hillman, DVM • Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242,
ext. 710,
or ceverett@...

For Immediate Release--Dec. 24, 2003


U.S. Meat Supply Safe; Disease Surveillance System Works,
Says Texas’ State Veterinarian

The presumptive diagnosis of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in one
cow in the state of Washington has proven the U.S.’ disease surveillance
system is working, resulting in a meat supply that is safe, reports Dr.
Bob Hillman, Texas’ state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health
Commission (TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory
agency. BSE is commonly nicknamed “mad cow disease,” because infected
cattle stumble, become unable to walk, develop head jerking and sensitivity
to light as the fatal disease progresses. Dr. Hillman stressed that BSE is
in no way related to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a fast-moving virus that
causes cloven-hooved animals, such as cows, pigs or sheep, to develop
blisters around their mouth, teats or hooves.

Dr. Hillman said the 4 1/2-year -old dairy cow in Washington was
slaughtered Dec. 9 at a small processing plant near Yakima. Brain and
nervous tissue samples were collected from the animal and tested for BSE,
because the cow was unable to stand, a problem apparently resulting from
recent calving. Positive presumptive test results on the cow were
announced Dec. 23, and tissue samples were forwarded to the world's BSE
reference laboratory in England for confirmatory testing, a process that
should take about a week.

“At least 23 countries, including Canada, have had at least one confirmed
case of BSE in domestic cattle since the disease was initially seen in the
United Kingdom in l986,” said Dr. Hillman. “From all evidence, it appears
the disease is transmitted through feed supplements comprised of rendered
by-products from an infected animal. As knowledge about this emerging
disease has been gained, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in
concert with other food-related agencies, states and industry associations
have implemented regulations and safeguards to protect our livestock and
meat supply.”

Dr. Hillman pointed out preventative and surveillance efforts:
* since 1989, the U.S. has prohibited the importation of live animals and
products from countries that have had confirmed cases of the disease.

* banning the feeding of rendered by-products from ruminants (such as
cattle and sheep) back to ruminants since August 1997.

* testing of brain tissue of more than 57,000 cattle in the U.S. since
l990. More than 20,000 of these tests were conducted in federal fiscal year
2003.
Until Dec. 23, 2003, when positive presumptive test results were
completed on the Washington state cow, all tests have been negative.
Part of the national BSE plan includes targeted disease testingon cattle
that exhibit central nervous system disorders or are unable to rise or
walk normally.

“Our US surveillance testing is significantly greater than that recommended
by the Office of International Epizooties, the organization that
establishes international animal health standards,” said Dr. Hillman.

Dr. Hillman said the U.S. is following its BSE plan, put in place and
improved on since l996. The herd of origin of the cow in Washington has
been identified and quarantined. USDA and Washington animal health
officials will determine the appropriate disposition of the herd upon
completion of the disease investigation. Food officials are recalling
products which may contain meat from the animal, although the BSE organism
has never been detected in milk or beef muscle tissue. The exhaustive
epidemiological investigation will examine all aspects of the disease
occurrence, including feed sources, in order to gain insight on how the
cow became infected and if other herds in Washington--or other states--may
be at risk. Dr. Hillman said the TAHC will receive frequent updates on the
investigation and will share information as quickly as possible.

“As difficult and unfortunate as this situation is, we do know the disease
surveillance system is working,” said Dr. Hillman. “In Texas, animals will
continue to be monitored for BSE, and the USDA and TAHC will work with
private veterinary practitioners and producers to investigate potential
disease occurrences. For BSE, that would include cattle that exhibit
central nervous system disorders, or those unable to rise or walk.” Dr.
Hillman explained that the TAHC operates a 24-hour hotline, which can be
accessed by calling 1-800-550-8242.

“The U.S. meat supply remains safe for consumers, because agencies,
producers and livestock associations are willing to address disease
problems openly,” said Dr. Hillman. “I encourage consumers to enjoy a
steak, roast or tall glass of milk tonight, and know that every rational
and scientifically based effort is being made to ensure the wholesomeness
of our products.”

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For more information regarding BSE, see the USDA's web page at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/bse.html