BSE case suspected in B.C.'s Fraser Valley

Canada's cattle industry is on edge after it was revealed a dairy cow in British Columbia may be Canada's latest case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be conducting tests over the weekend to confirm whether it is the country's fifth case of BSE.

The agency insists no part of the animal has entered the human food chain or animal feed systems.

The cow was discovered on a farm near Chilliwack, in the Fraser Valley, after routine tests. Initial results were inconclusive, but analysis from a national lab in Winnipeg shows a positive result for BSE.

A positive result could push back Canadian efforts to reopen the U.S. border to cows older than 30 months.

B.C. Agriculture Minister Pat Bell said the cow was demonstrating signs of the disease over the last two weeks.

Bell said officials with his ministry and the CFIA are at the farm doing further investigation.

Bell said it's disappointing to know B.C. likely has its first case of BSE, but he doubts there will be any repercussions in the international community.

"We are confident that ongoing monitoring of our herd is effective and there is no reason to believe that any of the international communities would take any actions as the result of this," he said.

Food inspection agency officials will not identify the farm. They say their investigation will focus on the source of the feed which may have resulted in the animal contracting BSE.