US reports first mad cow disease

The first US case of the mad cow disease, which devastated parts of the European agriculture industry in the 1990s, was found in a dairy cow...

The first US case of the mad cow disease, which devastated parts of the European agriculture industry in the 1990s, was found in a dairy cow and overseas buyers shut their doors on Wednesday to American hamburgers and steaks.

Discovery of the brain-wasting disease in Washington state threatened the $27 billion US cattle industry, pressured share prices of fast-food companies and raised consumer concerns about food safety — especially as an official said meat from the cow may have been eaten as hamburgers.

‘‘A Holstein cow from Washington state was tested positive for BSE or what is widely known as mad cow disease,’’ Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said.

Story continues below this ad

Japan, South Korea and Singapore immediately halted imports of American beef. Mad cow disease has never been found in the US before.

A sample from the US diseased cow was obtained on December 9 and tested positive. A tissue sample was flown by US Military jet to England for additional confirmation.

The farm where the cow was found near Washington was quarantined and officials were checking at processing plants where parts of the animal were sent. Investigators scrambled to detect how the cow was infected and were expected to focus on the animal’s food supply. — (Reuters)