The United States is experiencing yet another bovine spongiform encephalopathy outbreak, with a new atypical BSE case reported in the state of Florida. The infected cow was an older cow at six years old. The cow did not enter the slaughterhouse chain and also doesn't meet Taiwan's import regulations. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration says it will not adjust its U.S. beef import policies for the time being.


An atypical mad cow case has been reported in Florida. Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration says the infected cow was six years old and had not entered the slaughterhouse chain. This is the sixth known case of mad cow disease in the U.S.

The case has been confirmed as atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The cause may simply be aging, as BSE perhaps occurs in a certain percentage of cows.

The FDA says it asked the U.S. for more information as soon as it heard the news. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) lists the U.S. as having a "negligible" bovine spongiform encephalopathy risk and its status has not changed because of the new case. U.S. beef imports into Taiwan are governed by OIE regulations and a bilateral agreement. At present time, only beef from 66 certified production plants from cows under 30 months of age can be imported into Taiwan. None of the plants are in Florida. The FDA says it has no plans to change its U.S. beef import policy.

BSE is caused by a type of misfolded protein called a prion. Prions aggregate into a sheet that is toxic to brain cells and causes mutations. People that get infected with new strains of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease experience symptoms including memory loss, balance deficits and convulsions.

Taiwan imported 45,000 tons of beef from the U.S. last year, which was 40 percent of total imported beef volume and more than any other country. Australia and New Zealand ranked next. The FDA says if the U.S. fails to provide clear, detailed BSE data, it may organize a special multi-agency trip to the U.S. so Taiwan's government officials can conduct their own inspection and ensure food safety.