WASHINGTON, January 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. In total, 23
of the 81 cows that came from Canada have been located:
One of the 81 is the positive cow.
Three have been located at a facility in Tenino, Washington.
Six have been located at a facility in Connell, Washington.
One has been located at a dairy in Quincy, Washington.
Three are at a facility in Mattawa, Washington.
Nine were in the index herd.
In addition, USDA personnel have located
three animals that are part of a group of 17 heifers originally dispersed from the Canadian source herd in August 2001. These 17 animals were mentioned by Dr. Brian Evans, Chief Veterinary Officer for Canada, in the January 6, 2004, technical briefing and are not part of the 81 animals. APHIS investigators are still determining whether the remaining 14 animals entered the United States. The three animals were found at the Quincy, Washington, dairy where one of the 81 has been located.
Selective
depopulation of 129 animals from the index herd, which began on Saturday, January 10, is complete. On January 17, USDA began selective depopulation operations on the facility in Mattawa. USDA has transported and sampled a total of 20 animals from this facility. Thus far, 129 animals from the index premises have been euthanized and sampled. To date, 30 samples from the index herd have completed testing; results have been negative.
Additional information on BSE can be obtained by visiting the
USDA website at
http://www.usda.gov
. Past BSE updates can be viewed at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov
.
Printable Version
