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Mad Cow Disease: The Government Investigates
Aired December 24, 2003 - 15:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Federal officials are racing to find the source of a possible case of mad cow disease in the state of Washington. At this hour, the extent of that problem is not yet known. But all of the animals at the farm where the outbreak is suspected to have been is quarantined as a precaution.
Some 13 nations have banned imports of U.S. beef, including Mexico, Japan and Taiwan. U.S. officials are trying to assure the public that the nation's food supply is safe. The Agricultural Department says that the risk to human health is extremely low, and the agency also says, this is not foot and mouth disease, so it's not highly contagious. It's the first suspected case ever in the United States.
Like consumers, farmers were taken by surprise by the mad cow announcement. It comes at a time of high prices and profits for the cattle industry.
More on that from reporter Tom Elser of CNN affiliate KETV in Omaha, Nebraska.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM ELSER, KETV (voice-over): Nebraska has become known as the Beef State. One in every five steaks and hamburgers come from Nebraska. It's the state's single largest industry. Greg Rooley (ph) is with the group Nebraska Cattlemen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a day that you may anticipate that you hope never comes.
ELSER: He says the mad cow announcement took them by surprise, but tells me it's too early to make any predictions on what it means for them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot will happen over the cost of the last few hours and the next few hours that will impact the beef industry here in Nebraska and across the country.
ELSER: Rooley (ph) says the news will definitely not help farmers, and is quick to point out that the impact will be widespread.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cash receipts here are about $6 billion per year. And so, it has a big impact in obviously the rural parts of the state, but it has a big impact in Lincoln and Omaha as well.
ELSER: The plan now is to reassure consumers. Nebraska cattlemen say steps are in place to protect the nation's beef supply. This Lincoln family says they won't be changing their eating habits.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a beef eater. I love steak. Steak and potatoes, that's my meat and my meal. And I'm going to have it, no matter what.
ELSER: Not everyone is so sure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will make me think about it the next time I order something like from the meat variety, beef variety.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The beef supply in the United States is the safest in the world. I'm confident of that. In fact, when I get out of here tonight, I'm going to go home and have a big steak.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, our thanks to station KETV from Omaha for that report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 24, 2003 - 15:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Federal officials are racing to find the source of a possible case of mad cow disease in the state of Washington. At this hour, the extent of that problem is not yet known. But all of the animals at the farm where the outbreak is suspected to have been is quarantined as a precaution.
Some 13 nations have banned imports of U.S. beef, including Mexico, Japan and Taiwan. U.S. officials are trying to assure the public that the nation's food supply is safe. The Agricultural Department says that the risk to human health is extremely low, and the agency also says, this is not foot and mouth disease, so it's not highly contagious. It's the first suspected case ever in the United States.
Like consumers, farmers were taken by surprise by the mad cow announcement. It comes at a time of high prices and profits for the cattle industry.
More on that from reporter Tom Elser of CNN affiliate KETV in Omaha, Nebraska.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM ELSER, KETV (voice-over): Nebraska has become known as the Beef State. One in every five steaks and hamburgers come from Nebraska. It's the state's single largest industry. Greg Rooley (ph) is with the group Nebraska Cattlemen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a day that you may anticipate that you hope never comes.
ELSER: He says the mad cow announcement took them by surprise, but tells me it's too early to make any predictions on what it means for them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot will happen over the cost of the last few hours and the next few hours that will impact the beef industry here in Nebraska and across the country.
ELSER: Rooley (ph) says the news will definitely not help farmers, and is quick to point out that the impact will be widespread.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cash receipts here are about $6 billion per year. And so, it has a big impact in obviously the rural parts of the state, but it has a big impact in Lincoln and Omaha as well.
ELSER: The plan now is to reassure consumers. Nebraska cattlemen say steps are in place to protect the nation's beef supply. This Lincoln family says they won't be changing their eating habits.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a beef eater. I love steak. Steak and potatoes, that's my meat and my meal. And I'm going to have it, no matter what.
ELSER: Not everyone is so sure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will make me think about it the next time I order something like from the meat variety, beef variety.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The beef supply in the United States is the safest in the world. I'm confident of that. In fact, when I get out of here tonight, I'm going to go home and have a big steak.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, our thanks to station KETV from Omaha for that report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
