Tests Confirm Second Mad Cow Case in U.S.

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Jun 24, 3:45 PM (ET)

By LIBBY QUAID

WASHINGTON (AP) - Tests have confirmed mad cow disease in a U.S.

cow previously cleared of having the brain wasting illness, the

Agriculture Department said Friday. It is the second case of mad cow

disease in the United States.

An internationally recognized laboratory in Weybridge, England,

confirmed the case of mad cow disease after U.S. tests produced

conflicting results, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said.

Human health was not at risk, Johanns said. The animal was a " downer, "

meaning it was unable to walk. Such animals are banned from the food

supply.

New tests were ordered two weeks ago. Those results came back positive,

leading officials to seek confirmation from the Weybridge lab. The

department also performed more tests at its lab in Ames, Iowa.

The first case confirmed in the U.S. was in December 2003, a dairy cow

imported from Canada.

" I am encouraged that our interlocking safeguards are working exactly as

intended, " Johanns said.

" This animal was blocked from entering the food supply because of the

firewalls we have in place. Americans have every reason to continue to

be confident in the safety of our beef, " he said.

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