US tests for possible case of mad cow disease

WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (AFP) - The United States is investigating a possible new case of mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE), the Agriculture Department said Friday.
The authorities did not say where the suspect animal was.
"Early this morning, we were notified that an inconclusive BSE test result was received on a rapid screening test used as part of our enhanced BSE surveillance program," said Andrea Morgan, a USDA inspection services spokeswoman, in a statement.
"The inconclusive result does not mean we have found another case of BSE in this country. Inconclusive results are a normal component of screening tests, which are designed to be extremely sensitive so they will detect any sample that could possibly be positive," she added.
Tissue samples from the animal have been sent for tests and the results were expected in four to seven days.
"USDA remains confident in the safety of the US beef supply. Our ban on specified risk materials from the human food chain provides the protection to public health, should another case of BSE ever be detected in the United States," the spokeswoman said.
The only confirmed US mad cow case was found in the northwestern United States on December 23. The cow was from Canada but several countries banned imports of US beef as a precaution.

11/18/2004 15:43 GMT - AFP