*EPF205 12/30/2003
Text: USDA Chronology Outlines Events in U.S. Mad Cow Case
(Covers sequence of events from Dec. 9-Dec. 27) (480)

The following U.S. Department of Agriculture chronology outlines the sequence of events from December 9 through December 27 related to the discovery in the United States of a dairy cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease:

(begin text)

U.S. Department of Agriculture

CASE OF BSE IN THE UNITED STATES
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

December 9, 2003
A non-ambulatory dairy cow believed to be about 4-1/2 years old arrives at Verns Moses Lake Meats, a slaughter plant in Moses Lake, WA [Washington State]; the animal's condition is attributed to complications from calving. Consistent with USDA's [U.S. Department of Agriculture] standard testing protocols for BSE [bovine spongiform encephalopathy], samples are taken from the animal and all potential high-risk material (central nervous system tissue) is diverted out of the human food supply and into rendering.

December 11
Samples from the animal arrive at USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, IA [Iowa]. Because the animal had no neurological signs at slaughter, it was not considered to be a higher priority for BSE and the samples were placed in the normal queue for testing.

December 22
Preliminary test results are positive for BSE; NVSL conducts further testing.

December 23
Further test results are positive for BSE. Secretary [Ann] Veneman announces a "presumptive positive" case for BSE. A sample from the animal is hand-carried to the United Kingdom for final confirmatory testing at the BSE world reference laboratory in Weybridge, England.

APHIS' epidemiological investigation begins. Quarantine placed on herd in Mabton, WA, in which the index animal had last resided.

December 24
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service initiates a Class II recall of meat (10,410 pounds) from the group of 20 animals slaughtered on December 9 at Verns Moses Lake Meats.

USDA determines disposition of three calves from index animal: one died shortly after birth in October 2001. One is a yearling heifer and is in the index herd in Mabton, WA, which is under State quarantine. The third is the most recently born calf, a bull calf, and is in a herd in Sunnyside, WA, which is placed under State quarantine.

December 25
UK world reference laboratory confirms USDA diagnosis of BSE.

Traceback of index animal continues. It is believed likely that the index animal was purchased into Mabton herd from a dairy cattle finishing farm in Mattawa, WA. The other, less likely, possibility is that it came from an area livestock market.

December 27
USDA's traceback investigation indicates that the affected cow was likely imported from Canada in 2001 and that she was likely 6-1/2 years old, rather than 4-1/2 years old as the last owner's records had indicated. Investigative efforts continue and involve Canadian officials.

USDA team departs Washington for Japan to pursue trade talks.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents