OTTAWA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced on Monday that another cow in British Columbia had been identified as having bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease. The agency said that the discovery should have no impact on the country’s beef industry.

''This should have no impact as far as trade, or significant impact directly within Canada,'' said George Luterbach, a veterinarian with the CFIA.

It's the third case in the province on the Canadian west coast in the last three years and the 13th in Canada since the first case of mad cow came to light in 2003.

Luterbach said Canada has been assessed by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and given a controlled-risk status, indicating it has the proper checks and balances to control mad cow.

The agency is investigating to find out where the cow was born.

The CFIA also said there was no risk to public health because no part of the animal entered the human food systems.

Source: Canadian Press