Was a second case of BSE identified in the U.S. in June 2005?
Yes, the USDA surveillance program identified the second BSE case in the U.S. This cow was originally identified in November 2004. Results from this animal were inconclusive in screening tests, but negative in confirmatory immunohistochemical tests. USDA recently conducted an additional confirmatory test, Western Blot, and the results were positive for BSE. USDA sent the samples to the Weybridge, UK lab where BSE was confirmed. An epidemiological investigation to trace the origins of the cow is underway. USDA confirms that the cow was born before the U.S. instituted its ban on the use of most mammalian protein in feed for ruminant animals-believed to be the most critical protective measure in preventing the spread of BSE among cattle.
