06/10/05 Different test shows BSE positive cow

American Rancher June 10, 2005 A new twist regarding BSE was announced late Friday by the USDA. The department's Inspector General had recently requested that a different test be conducted on three samples from cattle that had initially had inconclusive results on BSE rapid testing late last year but were confirmed as BSE negative using the immunohistochemistry test. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced that after running the western blot test, one of the samples came back positive for BSE. The sample was sent to England for even further BSE testing. Secretary Johanns assured consumers; Johanns: "There is no risk to human health. The animal did not enter the food or the feed chain." Doctor John Clifford, USDA's chief veterinarian would provide only limited information about the suspect animal, which was a downer.. Clifford: "At this time we would have no information that it was an imported animal. Also that the animal was an aged animal. It was getting up in age. And it was a beef breed. That is what we are willing to release at this time." Clifford described the results of the western blot test as a "weak positve" and USDA officials emphasized that there is still no confirmed case of BSE in the United States. The testing being done in Weybridge, England can take several days. I'm Bob Hoff.