Can Mad Cow Disease or nvCJD spread in the United States?
A. It is highly unlikely Mad Cow Disease or nvCJD will spread into the U.S. However, nvCJD could become an issue among U.S. citizens who have spent time in countries with known cases of Mad Cow Disease. Q. What measures are being taken by the United States to prevent BSE or nvCJD from reaching the United States? A. There are numerous government agencies and institutional laboratories that are monitoring BSE issues along with other TSE cases. · Since 1985, the United States has not imported beef from England. · In 1989, the USDA banned the importation of ruminant animals from countries with confirmed cases of BSE. · In June 1997, the FDA issued a regulation banning the use of at-risk mammalian protein in animal feed. · In December 1997, USDA and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) banned imports of all live ruminants and at-risk ruminant products from Europe until risk factors associated with BSE are fully examined. · In December 2000, APHIS prohibited all imports of rend
