Mad cow disease was confirmed in a dairy cow in central California, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.
"As part of our targeted surveillance system, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the nation's fourth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a dairy cow from central California,” USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford said in a statement.
He said that there was no threat to consumers.
“[The infected cow] was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, so at no time presented a risk to the food supply or human health. Additionally, milk does not transmit BSE,” he said. “USDA has no reason to believe that any other U.S. animals are currently affected.”
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative condition in cattle that can cause a brain-wasting illness in humans. It can be transmitted to humans and has killed about two hundred people worldwide.
