Feb. 5, 2004 Samples taken from the three animals depopulated in the second Mabton, WA, facility have tested negative. Samples taken from the Mabton index herd, the herds in Mattawa, Connell, Boardman, Quincy, Tenino, Moxee, Othello, and Burley have tested negative for BSE. To date, there have been a total of 255 samples taken; all samples have tested negative for BSE.   Feb. 4, 2004 On February 4, 2004, the International Review Subcommittee of the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases presented the results of their review of USDA’s BSE response to the full Committee.   Feb. 3, 2004 On Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004, 15 animals of interest were euthanized and sampled from the Moxee, WA, facility. In addition to this facility, USDA has previously conducted selective depopulation activities at these facilities   Feb. 2, 2004 On Saturday, Jan. 31, three animals of interest were euthanized and sampled from the second Mabton, WA, facility. The facility has been released from quarantine. In addition to this facility, USDA has previously conducted selective depopulation activities at these facilities.   Jan. 28, 2004 On Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004, 15 animals of interest were euthanized and sampled from the Moxee, WA, facility. In addition to this facility, USDA has previously conducted selective depopulation activities at these facilities   Jan. 27, 2004 On Monday, Jan. 26, 2004, 18 animals of interest were euthanized and sampled from the Quincy, WA, facility. Four animals of interest were euthanized and sampled at the Tenino, WA, facility. In addition to these two facilities, USDA has previously conducted selective depopulation activities at these facilities.   Jan. 26, 2004 Guidelines on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) issued by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the international animal heath standard setting organization, state that animals born on a premises within one year (before or after) of a BSE-affected animal can be considered of significant interest to the country reporting the BSE detection. to the 26 cattle already located, an additional animal has been located at a facility in Moxee, Washington. The State has placed a hold on the facility. In total, 27 of the 81 cattle that came from Canada have been located.   Jan. 23, 2004 USDA's investigation into the 81 cattle that came from Canada continues. In addition to the 26 cattle already located, an additional animal has been located at a facility in Moxee, Washington. The State has placed a hold on the facility. In total, 27 of the 81 cattle that came from Canada have been located.   Jan. 22, 2004 USDA's investigation into the 81 cattle that came from Canada continues. In total, 23 of the 81 cattle that came from Canada have been located. Jan. 21, 2004 USDA personnel have located another animal that is part of a group of 17 heifers originally dispersed from the Canadian source herd in August 2001. The animal was found at a Boardman, Oregon, facility.   Jan. 20, 2004 On January 19, USDA completed selective depopulation operations on the facility in Mattawa, Washington. USDA has transported and sampled a total of 39 animals from this facility. Selective depopulation has also been completed at the index premises; 131 animals from the index premises have been euthanized and sampled.   Jan. 19, 2004 USDA's investigation into the 81 cows that came from Canada continues. Three animals have been located at a facility in Tenino, Washington and one additional animal has been located in Connell. The State has placed a hold on the Tenino facility in order to facilitate the investigation.   Jan. 16, 2004 USDA's investigation on the 81 cows that came from Canada continues. Five additional animals have been located at a facility located in Connell, Washington. The State has placed a hold on the facility in order to facilitate the investigation. In total, 19 of the 81 cows that came from Canada have been located.   Jan. 15, 2004 Selective depopulation of the index herd, which began on Saturday, January 10, continues. USDA plans to transport, humanely euthanize, and test approximately 130 animals in the index herd   Jan. 14, 2004 USDA has confirmed that one animal has gone to a dairy in Quincy, Washington. USDA believes that as many as seven animals may have been sent to this facility; we are working to confirm how many may remain at this facility. The State has placed a hold on this facility in order to aid the investigation.   Jan. 12, 2004 In regard to the ongoing investigation, USDA has traced a third animal to the herd in Mattawa, Washington. Two animals were previously traced to this herd. The three animals in the Mattawa herd will be removed. Jan. 08, 2004 On January 6, USDA euthanized the entire bull calf herd from Sunnyside, Washington. Approximately 450 animals were euthanized according to American Veterinary Medical Association humane guidelines Jan. 06, 2004 USDA announced today that DNA evidence now helps to verify—with a high degree of certainty—that the BSE positive cow found in Washington State originated from a dairy farm in Alberta, Canada. Jan. 05, 2004 USDA has made the decision to depopulate the bull calf operation in Mabton, Washington, that includes a calf born to the heifer infected with BSE prior to the heifer’s slaughter this past December.  Jan. 02, 2004 USDA has confirmed that 81 of the 82 animals listed on the Canadian health certificate that includes the eartag number of the index cow entered the United States through Oroville, WA, on September 4, 2001. One of those 82 has now been located at a Mattawa, WA, dairy operation, which is now under a state hold order. Dec. 31, 2003 USDA continues to work with the Canadian officials to verify traceback of the index animal. Records indicate that the animal was approximately 6-1/2 years old at the time of slaughter. USDA is working with Canada to conduct DNA testing to verify that the correct animal has been identified. DNA testing is expected to begin this evening and results could be available as early as next week. Dec. 30, 2003 Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced additional safeguards to bolster the U.S. protection systems against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or BSE, and further protect public health. Dec. 29, 2003 USDA continues to work with the Canadian officials to verify traceback of the index animal. Records obtained from the owner correspond with Canada’s records indicating that this animal was approximately 6-1/2 years old at the time of slaughter. USDA is working with Canada to conduct DNA testing to verify that the correct animal has been identified. Dec. 27, 2003 On the morning of December 25, the BSE world reference lab in Weybridge, England, confirmed USDA’s December 23 preliminary diagnosis of BSE in a single nonambulatory dairy cow that had been slaughtered on December 9 at Vern's Moses Lake Meats in Washington State.