December 9, 2003 – A non-ambulatory dairy cow believed to be about 4½ years old arrives at Vern’s Moses Lake Meats, a slaughter plant in Moses Lake, Washington. The animal’s condition is attributed to complications from calving. Consistent with USDA’s standard testing protocols for BSE, tissue samples are taken from the animal.

December 11 – Samples from the animal arrive at USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. Because the animal had no neurological signs at slaughter, it was not considered to be a higher priority for BSE and the samples were placed in the normal queue for testing.

December 22 – Preliminary test results are positive for BSE; NVSL conducts further testing.

December 23 – Further test results are positive for BSE. Secretary Veneman announces a “presumptive positive” case for BSE. A sample from the animal is hand-carried to the United Kingdom for final confirmatory testing at the BSE world reference laboratory in Weybridge, England. APHIS’ epidemiological investigation begins. Quarantine placed on herd in Mabton, Washington, in which the index animal had last resided.

December 24 – USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service initiates a Class II (voluntary) recall of meat (10,410 pounds) from the group of 20 animals slaughtered on December 9 at Vern’s Moses Lake Meats.

USDA determines disposition of three calves from index animal: one died shortly after birth in October 2001. One is a yearling heifer and is in the index herd in Mabton, WA, which is under State quarantine. The third is the most recently born calf, a bull calf, and is in a herd in Sunnyside, Washington, which is placed under state quarantine.

December 25 – United Kingdom world reference laboratory confirms USDA diagnosis of BSE.

Traceback of index animal continues. It is believed likely that the index animal was purchased into Mabton herd from a dairy cattle finishing farm in Mattawa, Washington. The other, less likely possibility is that it came from an area livestock market.

December 27 – USDA’s traceback investigation indicates that the affected cow was likely imported from Canada in 2001 and that she was likely 6½ years old, rather than 4½ years old as the last owner’s records had indicated. Investigative efforts continue and involve Canadian officials.

USDA team departs Washington for Japan to pursue trade talks.

December 30 – USDA announces additional safeguards to bolster the U.S. protection systems against BSE.

Important Facts Regarding the Investigation