Mad Cow in Canada shows U.S. surveillance significant
From Dean of Agriculture Victor Lechtenberg

Livestock diseases effect us greatly even when they occur in other countries. Last month, U.S. markets were hit hard with the news that a case of mad cow disease was found in Canada.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, otherwise known as mad cow disease or BSE, has never been found in the United States. However, testing for it and protecting against it and other diseases are significant and continuous efforts.

Countries with BSE have experienced huge financial losses. According to Reuters, Canada's beef industry has lost $19.8 million per day from this one case of BSE.

Purdue's Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, is one of the testing facilities maintaining this country's first line of defense in detecting many animal diseases. Among new efforts, the ADDL can test for chronic wasting disease and exotic New Castle disease in poultry.

Thanks to funding reinstated by the Indiana state legislature, the ADDL will soon fill a vacant virologist position. The new hire will diagnose viral diseases and conduct research on viral diseases in animals.

Purdue is also home to the National Biosecurity Resource Center for Animal Health Emergencies, a Web-based source located at http://www.biosecuritycenter.org/. The site contains information on animal disease prevention, biosecurity, and reportable diseases.

Purdue is doing all it can to protect Indiana's animal agriculture industry.

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