Incidence of BSE
Experts, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, say the risk of BSE in North America is low, because of the safeguards that are in place. The FAO says that cases of BSE are declining worldwide, dropping at a rate of 50% over the past three years. For details, visit FAO Newsroom. The following is information on the incidence of BSE in Canada, the United States and the U.K.
Canada
2009
In May 2009, the Government of Canada through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an 80-month-old dairy cow from Alberta. No part of the animal's carcass entered the human food or animal feed systems.
For information on the most recent finding, visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. See a summary of the completed investigations.
2008
In 2008, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported four incidences of BSE: November, a dairy cow in British Columbia; August, a beef cow in Alberta; June, a dairy cow in British Columbia; and February a dairy cow in Alberta.
In each and every case, no part of the animal entered the human or animal feed systems.
2007
In 2007 there were three cases of BSE; in a mature bull, a dairy cow and a mature beef cow. No part of any of these animals entered the human food or animal feed systems.
2006
In 2006 there have been five cases of BSE. Three cases involved mature cross-bred animals and two were dairy cows. None of these animals entered the human food chain or the animal feed systems. The government says that these cases show the effectiveness of Canada's surveillance program and that there is a very low level of the disease in Canada.
2005
In January 2005, there were two cases of BSE; one in an older dairy cow, the other in a beef animal. No part of either animal entered the human food chain or animal feed systems.
The dairy cow was born before the 1997 feed ban. The Government says they believe the animal became infected by contaminated feed before the ban was in place. The beef animal was born in 1998; seven months after the feed ban, but the government says there may have been feed made before the feed ban, still left in the system. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has ended its investigation into the January 2nd and January 11th cases.
2003
On May 20th, 2003 there was a case of BSE in a beef animal. The carcass was condemned and did not enter the human food chain. Fifteen properties were quarantined as part of the investigation into the case. In total, 2,700 cattle were tested and found to be free of BSE. Visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for a summary of the investigation.
An international team of BSE experts reviewed Canada's investigation. They found it to be detailed, thorough and transparent. For details of their review, refer to the International Review Team Report.
As part of the investigation into this first case of BSE, and based on the recommendations of the international experts, Canada put in place enhanced controls for BSE using the best available science. These measures are similar to those being used in the United States. Since both the Canadian and American beef industry are closely integrated, it is very important to maintain similar BSE prevention policies in both countries.
1993
In 1993 a cow imported from the U.K. had BSE. The animal, along with the other animals in the herd, its' offspring, and all other animals imported from the U.K., were destroyed.
U.S.A.
2006
On March 13th, 2006 there was one case of BSE in an older beef animal 10 years of age or older. The animal was born before the United States feed ban. For details, see the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) news release.
2005
On June 24th, 2005 there was one case of BSE in a beef animal over 8 years of age that was born before the September 1997 ban on ruminant-to-ruminant feed. For details see the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) news release.
2003
In December 2003, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that BSE had been diagnosed in a Washington state dairy cow. The USDA's investigation found that the cow was imported from Canada in 2001 and that she was likely 6-1/2 years old. For a chronology of events, see information on the USDA investigation.
U.K.
BSE was discovered in the U.K. in 1986. Over the next few years the epidemic grew and reached its peak in 1992 when 36,680 cases were confirmed. The numbers have steadily declined with 67 confirmed cases in 2007. By regulating feed practices to eliminate the feeding of meat and bone meal made from potentially infected cattle back to healthy animals, the outbreak was controlled.
Visit the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for details.
