BSE risk low, USDA says

Based on an analysis of seven years of BSE surveillance data, the USDA has concluded that the prevalence of the disease is less than 1 case per million adult cattle. Because of the low level of the threat, it plans to pull back on its surveillance program. The USDA will continue collecting samples from a variety of sites and from cattle populations where the disease is most likely to be detected. Ongoing surveillance efforts will still cost about $17 million a year.