The Director General
OIE
Paris
Dear Dr. Vallat
Emergency Report
Report Date: 06 June 2002
Diagnosis:
On 28 May 2002, the preliminary rapid test for bovine
spongioform encephalopathy (BSE) showed a positive result for a cow from the
Golan Heights in the north of the country.
The test was repeated on 29 May 2002 and followed by the
immunohistochemical test as an additional method. Both the rapid test and the
immunohistochemical test showed positive results.
The sample in question was sent to the OIE Reference
Laboratories for BSE in Bern (Switzerland) for confirmation of diagnosis. A
positive confirmation was received on 06 June 2002.
Affected animal and structure of the farm of origin:
- An Israeli Holstein born
on 19 September 1992 (i.e. ten years old), which had shown clinical
central nervous system symptoms for two days before, died.
- The establishment is a
Kibbutz herd that keeps 1300 dairy heifers and cows and is situated in the
Golan Heights in the north of the country. The cow had been bought as a
two-year-old heifer from another farm situated in the Jordan Valley.
Measures Taken:
- An immediate ban had
been placed on the both herds.
- The affected cow had
three living cohort mates (born within twelve months of the affected cow)
in the herd of origin. The cow had one living female offspring born on 28
April 2000 and one male calve born on 15 May 2002. All those animals are
under restriction and will be destroyed.
- A contingency plan will
take effect on 09 June 2002. The measures include:
- A compulsory testing of
all slaughtered bovines aged more than thirty months will be subject for
examination before being released for human consumption.
- Removal and
incineration of SRM from all bovines aged more than 12 months.
- Limiting the age of
bovines sold to the Palestinian Authority for slaughter to thirty months.
- Until the contingency
plan will takes effect, slaughtering in Israel is restricted to bovine
animals under 30 months old.
- The active surveillance
for BSE in all fallen stock will continue.
Sincerely,
O. Nir (Markusfeld) BVSc, MRCVS
Director of Veterinary Services
And Animal Health