Canada says no new cases of mad cow disease

OTTAWA, Feb 11 (AFP) - Canadian officials said Friday they have found no new cases of mad cow disease in cattle related to a case confirmed last month.
"The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has concluded its investigation into the latest case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy confirmed on January 11, 2005. All animals tested through the investigation were found negative for BSE," the agency said in a statement.
The case confirmed last month was Canada's third, and the first after a ban on ruminant feed introduced in 1997 to check the spread of the disease.
"The agency's investigation determined that 349 animals comprised the birth cohort, which includes cattle born on the farm of origin within 12 months before and 12 months after the affected animal. Of this group, 41 animals were found alive, were euthanized and tested negative for BSE. Most of the other animals from the birth cohort had previously died or been slaughtered," the statement said.

02/11/2005 21:34 GMT - AFP