Hagel Statement on the First Suspected Case of Mad Cow Disease in the U.S.
Washington, D.C. - On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman announced that a Holstein cow on a farm in the state of Washington had been diagnosed with a "presumptive positive" case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease. On Wednesday, members of U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel's (R-NE) staff spoke with senior USDA officials about the announcement.
Below is a statement from Hagel on the announcement made by Secretary Veneman.
"I believe that USDA has taken the appropriate actions to handle the situation quickly and responsibly. The importance of the cattle industry to Nebraska cannot be overstated. The American people and the people of Nebraska need to be confident that the United States has the finest food safety program in the world. USDA's recent announcement regarding a presumptive positive case of mad cow disease is serious.
"USDA has quarantined the farm in Washington and has begun a comprehensive investigation working with state, public health, and industry counterparts to determine the source of the disease. The ability to catch this possible case of mad cow disease shows the effectiveness of USDA's food safety measures and precautions. I will continue to stay in touch with USDA and to monitor the situation during the ongoing investigation."
In the last year, USDA has tested 20,526 head of cattle for mad cow disease, which is triple the level of the previous year of 2002. A USDA surveillance program has been in place for over 12 years to test cattle for mad cow disease.