WASHINGTON – Despite the confirmation of a third case of mad cow disease in the U.S., the government intends to scale back testing for the brain-wasting disorder.
The Agriculture Department boosted its surveillance after finding the first case of mad cow disease in the United States in 2003. About 1,000 tests are run daily, up from about 55 daily in 2003. The department’s budget proposal calls for 40,000 tests annually, or about 110 daily.
The testing program detected an infected cow in Alabama last week, and further analysis confirmed Monday that the animal had mad cow disease.
A reduction in testing has been in the works for months. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns pointed out testing is not a food safety measure. Rather, it’s a way to find out the prevalence of the disease.
Higher testing levels were intended to be temporary when they were announced two years ago. Yet consumer groups argue more animals should be tested.
The department mostly tests older cows with symptoms of the disease. Infected cows can show signs of nervous system disorder, such as aggression, lack of coordination, inability to walk or abnormal posture. In the latest case, the cow couldn’t walk. It was a “downer,” another sign of the disease. Dead cows are also suspect.
Tests are done on brain tissue from cows, so animals must be killed before they can be tested.
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