New Jersey Agriculture Secretary Charles M. Kuperus
today issued the following statement regarding the
presumptive case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy
(BSE) in Washington state.
“As the U.S. Department of Agriculture investigates
the suspected case of BSE in Washington state, New
Jersey is prepared to provide any assistance that
may be needed. It’s important for everyone
to understand that USDA has an aggressive surveillance
program designed to protect public health. The public
can be reassured by the USDA’s finding that
infectious tissues from this cow did not enter the
food supply and by a USDA recall of all beef product
that day from the slaughterhouse where the cow was
slaughtered as an extra precautionary measure. While
we have no indication that the Washington case is
anything but an isolated incident, as a precautionary
measure we are asking our cattle farmers and veterinarians
to be extra vigilant for signs of neurological disorders
that are symptomatic of this disease.”
New Jersey has a total of 46,000 cattle or calves
valued at $46.4 million on 1,600 farms.
In the first six months of this year, a total of
122 cattle in New Jersey that were either downed
or displaying neurological symptoms tested negative
for BSE. |
