Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 2/13/15


The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed its first new case since 2011 of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a beef cow from Alberta. No part of the animal's carcass entered the human food or animal feed systems.

Immediately upon confirmation of this case, the CFIA launched an investigation and is working closely with provincial and industry partners.

BSE is a progressive, fatal neurological disease in cattle. This latest case was detected through the national BSE surveillance program.

As part of the investigation, the CFIA is seeking to confirm the age of the animal, its history and how it became infected. The investigation will focus on the feed supplied to this animal during the first year of its life. The agency will also trace out all animals of equivalent risk. Equivalent risk animals will be ordered destroyed and tested for BSE.

Canada remains a "controlled BSE risk" country, as recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Accordingly, this case should not affect current exports of Canadian cattle or beef, according to CFIA.

The case will be reported to the OIE, in line with Canada's international obligations and its commitment to transparency. It will be reported on the CFIA website, as part of the agency's monthly reportable diseases update.

BSE, which the media dubbed “mad cow disease,” is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle that causes a degeneration in the brain and spinal cord. BSE has a long incubation period, about 2.5 to 8 years, usually affecting adult cattle.

The disease can be transmitted to human beings by eating food contaminated with the brain, spinal cord or digestive tract of infected carcasses. For this reason, the meat industry takes multiple precautions to ensure these parts of the animal do not enter the food chain. They are designated as “specified risk materials” and removed during the slaughter process.

An outbreak of the disease in 2003 disrupted global beef trade for over a decade. There are still occasional cases of the disease discovered across the globe, typically a single animal at a time. For example, in 2014 a single case was discovered in Germany.

“Canada’s announcement that it has detected a case of BSE in an Alberta cow and that the animal did not enter the food chain shows that their nation’s surveillance system is working," said North American Meat Institute President and CEO Barry Carpenter. "Results from an investigation into this case will help continue to strengthen the disease firewalls that have served North America well.  We remain confident in the safety of Canadian beef.” 

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