BSE Testing to Remain at Present Levels
November 18, 2005
November 18, 2005 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture will not scale back its testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) next month as scheduled, said Mike Johanns, secretary of agriculture. No decision has been made about scaling back testing, which accounts for about 1,000 animals a day, but testing will include animals at high risk, such as downers and cattle exhibiting signs of dementia, as well as testing of younger, apparently healthy cattle, which have been tested infrequently since the increased surveillance system was instituted in June 2004. Prior to that, USDA had tested about 50 cattle a day.
To date, USDA has tested more than 500,000 animals with only one positive result.
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