Second cattle herd quarantined
The US Department of Agriculture has quarantined a second cattle herd in Washington State.
The herd contains two calves born to a Holstein cow confirmed with the US’ first case of Mad Cow Disease.
The quarantined order was a precautionary measure, according to the department’s chief veterinarian officer, as there was little evidence to suggest the disease could be passed from mother to calf.
Ronald DeHaven said: “The reason for concern with these calves is that even though it is an unlikely means of spreading the disease, there is the potential that the infected cow could pass the disease on to its calves.”
Following the diagnosis of BSE, many countries have banned US beef imports, causing the price of beef to plummet sharply on the commodities market.
Shares in McDonald’s fell about 5 per cent on the New York Stock Exchange when the news broke.
Russia, Mexico, Australia, Japan, the biggest single buyer of US beef, Vietnam and Macau, are among the two dozen countries to have announced temporary bans.
BSE, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, has been linked to new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), a human brain-wasting disease.
The Tories last night called on the Food Standards Agency to launch an investigation into the safety of imported US beef.
The Conservatives said if there was a discernible risk, a ban ought to be implemented immediately.
Health spokesman Tim Yeo said: “Although we import only small quantities of beef from the United States, it is important that the Food Standards Agency acts promptly to reassure the public.
“The FSA should make an assessment of the risks posed by American beef and then make a recommendation to the European Commission.”
The UK imports a small amount of beef from the US. According to the Meat and Livestock Commission, only 15 tonnes of beef up to September this year and just 47 tonnes were imported in 2002.
