Testing Activities

   Samples taken from the three animals depopulated in Othello, WA, and the seven animals depopulated in Burley, ID, have tested negative. In addition, the 242 samples from the Mabton index herd, the herds in Mattawa, Connell, Boardman, Quincy, Tenino, and Moxee have tested negative for BSE -- for a total of 252 samples that have tested negative. The final test results for the samples taken at the second Mabton, WA, facility, are not yet available.

Foreign Animal and Poultry Disease Advisory Committee

   USDA will hold a public meeting of the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases Feb. 4, 2004. During this meeting, the International Review Subcommittee, an outside panel that has reviewed USDA’s response to the BSE issue, will make its report to the Advisory Committee. More information is available www.aphis.usda.gov.

Trade Issues

   Specific trade information can be found at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/trade/
bse_trade_ban_status.html.

Other Issues

   Additional information on BSE can be obtained by visiting the USDA website at www.usda.gov. Past BSE updates can also be found at www.aphis.usda.gov.