BSE detection plan of notification
Drovers news source
| Wednesday, December 05, 2001
USDA bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) response plan specifies public notification if there ever is a confirmed case of BSE in the U.S. Here's how the government's BSE response plan works.
APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) is the organization that tests cattle brain samples for the presence of BSE. NVSL, therefore, is the organization responsible for activating the notification and BSE response process.
From the time a brain sample is submitted to NVSL, it takes 14 to 18 days to confirm a diagnosis of BSE. In the first 10 to 13 days, NVSL pathologists have enough information to either rule out BSE or determine the need for additional tests. If additional tests suggest a presumptive diagnosis of BSE (a presumptive positive), an NVSL pathologist will hand carry the sample to the United Kingdom for confirmation. APHIS will receive notification (either confirming or not confirming NVSL's diagnosis) from the UK between 24 and 96 hours.
It is at this critical point, when NVSL suggests a diagnosis of BSE and is preparing to send the sample to the UK, USDA BSE response plan is initiated. The BSE Response Plan begins with the notification from NVSL to APHIS. USDA BSE Response Plan specifies a notification chain of command from APHIS Veterinary Services deputy administrator all the way to the Secretary of Agriculture.
Although USDA BSE Response Plan is triggered by a presumptive positive, USDA plan specifies a public notification process only if there is a confirmed BSE diagnosis. If confirmation of the NVSL's BSE diagnosis is received from the UK, USDA plan calls for a teleconference to notify key industry and consumer representatives, issuance of a press release the day the diagnosis is confirmed and the conduct of a press conference the morning after the diagnosis is confirmed.
