Has BSE or new variant Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease (nvCJD) been found in the United States?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been active in programs to guard food and drug products in the U.S from BSE contamination. For instance, an active surveillance program for BSE in animals has been in effect since May 1990, and since June 5, 1997, the FDA has prohibited the feeding of bone and meat meal derived from mammals to ruminants. The USDA has examined over 11,700 bovine brain specimens over this time period. On December 23, 2003, the USDA reported a case of BSE in an animal located in the state of Washington. The USDA moved quickly to identify the origination of this animal, locate the 80 original herd members of this animal in the U.S. and Canada, and to recall any bovine products that may have been produced from this animal. As of February 9, 2004, 2000 tons of bovine products have been destroyed, 75000 animals had been inspected, and over 700 have been depopulated from herds in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Of these, 2
