"Thanks to a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), we were in the process of setting up this program before the recent discovery of BSE in Washington State. In light of that discovery, we want to make sure that any remotely suspicious animals in West Virginia are tested," said Commissioner Douglass.
"It’s important for consumers to know that, not only are this nation’s agriculture professionals hard at work tracing and eradicating this current problem, but we have been protecting America’s food supply for decades," he continued.
Cattle growers should be on the lookout for any signs of neurological problems – such as poor coordination, head shaking, excessive salivation, or cattle that cannot stand – and report them to their regular veterinarian. Those animals should not continue in the food chain. Instead, the veterinarian should euthanize the animal and contact the WVDA’s Animal Health Division at 304/558-2214 for instructions on how to take and submit the sample.
Similarly, any livestock producers who notice unusual behavior or appearance in any of their animals, but who do not have access to a regular veterinarian, should contact Animal Health Division. Messages will automatically be forwarded to the State Veterinarian after regular business hours.
Agriculture officials across America have been on the lookout for BSE because of the economic effect a positive case could have on U.S. cattle exports. Plus, a strong surveillance program is the best weapon at stopping BSE, or any other foreign animal disease (FAD) disease outbreak, in its tracks.
"Thorough surveillance of a disease outbreak of any kind is critical because early detection is the key to containing the spread of the disease," said State Veterinarian Joe Starcher. "Of course, early detection requires manpower and training, and it requires that people on the local level be educated about the signs and consequences of FADs."
According to Commissioner Douglass, other diseases could be even more problematic than BSE. Unlike Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and other contagious animal diseases, BSE does not spread through the air or through animal-to-animal contact. It can only be contracted through the ingestion of central nervous tissues of infected animals. The infectious agent is not contained in meat or milk, he noted.
"There is absolutely no scientific indication that the safety of either meat or milk has been compromised," he said.
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The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human
health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs,
as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide
elected officials in West Virginia. Current Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is
the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information,
visit www.wvagriculture.org.
