WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - At least one confirmed case of the deadly mad cow disease was found in an animal in Washington state, a U.S. Agriculture Department official said on Tuesday.
Mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), had previously not been found in the United States, but it devastated the European cattle industry in the 1990s. Scientists believe humans can be infected with the brain-wasting disease by eating diseased meat.
A USDA spokeswoman said one case was being investigated, but declined further comment. A spokesman for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates futures trading, said the agency was told that the USDA had detected mad cow disease in Washington state.
One industry source, who declined to be identified, said a "downer" animal -- one that is too sick to walk -- was diagnosed with mad cow disease in Washington state.
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman was scheduled to hold a news conference at 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT).
The U.S. cattle industry has long feared an outbreak of mad cow disease, which could result in billions of dollars of losses.
On May 20, Canada confirmed that one Alberta cow, which was slaughtered in January, had mad cow disease. The disease has been widespread in Europe and has been linked to about 130 human deaths, mostly in Britain.
The discovery of the sick Canadian cow triggered an immediate halt of Canadian meat exports by most countries as a precaution.
Because of concerns over mad cow disease, the European Union in 1994 banned the use of mammalian meat and bone meal in cattle feed, but it has allowed the products to be used in feed for other animals like chickens, pigs and fish.
Mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), had previously not been found in the United States, but it devastated the European cattle industry in the 1990s. Scientists believe humans can be infected with the brain-wasting disease by eating diseased meat.
A USDA spokeswoman said one case was being investigated, but declined further comment. A spokesman for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates futures trading, said the agency was told that the USDA had detected mad cow disease in Washington state.
One industry source, who declined to be identified, said a "downer" animal -- one that is too sick to walk -- was diagnosed with mad cow disease in Washington state.
Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman was scheduled to hold a news conference at 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT).
The U.S. cattle industry has long feared an outbreak of mad cow disease, which could result in billions of dollars of losses.
On May 20, Canada confirmed that one Alberta cow, which was slaughtered in January, had mad cow disease. The disease has been widespread in Europe and has been linked to about 130 human deaths, mostly in Britain.
The discovery of the sick Canadian cow triggered an immediate halt of Canadian meat exports by most countries as a precaution.
Because of concerns over mad cow disease, the European Union in 1994 banned the use of mammalian meat and bone meal in cattle feed, but it has allowed the products to be used in feed for other animals like chickens, pigs and fish.
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