BSE

Following nearly two years of extensive testing, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has concluded that the prevalence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, in the United States is "extraordinarily low." Briefing reporters April 28, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said test results of nearly 650,000 "high-risk" cattle since June 2004 indicate that the prevalence of BSE in the U.S. cattle herd is no more than four to seven cases. The U.S. cattle population encompasses approximately 42 million animals, according to USDA. The department now will submit its analysis of test results to an independent committee of scientists for "rigorous review." The results include those from testing over the five years immediately prior to the start of the enhanced surveillance program, Johanns said.

2005: Study: BSE-Positive Cow No Threat to Food Supplies (Sep 1, 2005) | Tight Surveillance Catches U.S. Case of Mad Cow Disease (Jun 24, 2005) | Agriculture Secretary Endorses New Guidelines for Beef Trade (May 28, 2005) | Research on Mad Cow Disease To Receive Extra U.S. Funding (Mar 21, 2005)

2004: Tests for Mad Cow Disease Negative, Agriculture Dept. Says (Nov 23, 2004) | U.S. Livestock Identification Program Under Development (Jul 23, 2004) | Veneman: One-Third of U.S. Beef Export Market Reopened (Jul 16, 2004) | U.S. Beef Safer than Year Ago, Agriculture's Veneman Says (Jul 14, 2004) | United States Expands Protections from Mad Cow Disease (Jul 9, 2004) | New U.S. BSE Testing Program Expected To Begin in June (May 24, 2004) | U.S. Reopens Public Comment Period on Draft Mad Cow Rule (Mar 5, 2004) | U.S. to Strengthen Animal Testing Program, Veneman Says (Feb 19, 2004) | BSE Advisory Group Recommends Further Ban on Risk Matter (Feb 9, 2004 ) | U.S. Completes BSE Investigation, Agriculture Official Says (Feb 9, 2004) | USDA to Date Has Slaughtered Nearly 700 At-Risk Cows (Jan 29, 2004)

2003: U.S. and Canada Cooperating on Mad Cow Investigation (Dec 31, 2003) | Bush Admin. Implements Safeguards to Protect Beef Supply (Dec 31, 2003) | Bush Administration Acts to Reassure Public on U.S. Beef (Dec 31, 2003) | U.S. Announces Aggressive New Measures on Beef Safety (Dec 30, 2003) | USDA Chronology Outlines Events in U.S. Mad Cow Case (Dec 30, 2003) | Agriculture Secretary Says U.S. Tracing Origin of Diseased Cow (Dec 26, 2003) | Ag. Sec. Veneman Announces Suspected Mad Cow Case (Dec 23, 2003)