Media Tip Sheet: Mad Cow Disease Experts Available at Colorado State University

Colorado State University, a world leader in the fields of agricultural sciences, veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences, houses experts who can talk with media about a variety of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or "mad cow") related topics.

In reference to the Dec. 23 announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding the first potential case of "mad cow" disease in the nation, experts at Colorado State university are available for media interviews on the following related areas:

–     Safety of the U.S. food supply – including current beef industry protocols to maximize food safety and protect consumers.

–     The trace back process – the current system of identifying and tracing animals from the farm to consumers.

–     A proposed national identification system – discussion of how the tracing system may change to enhance the government’s ability to quickly trace potentially infected animals.

–     Government response – what the United States has learned from studying the disease and response in other countries.

–     Economic impact – Trade and commodity price issues.

–     Procedures for handling downer cows.

–     Process of diagnosing BSE in the laboratory.

–     Comparison of BSE, chronic wasting disease, scrapie and other forms of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) diseases in animals.

For interviews with experts call Dell Rae Moellenberg at (970) 491-6009, or Brad Bohlander at (970) 491-1545.