USDA CHIEF VETERINARIAN SPEAKS ABOUT THE MADCOW DISEASE IN WASHINGTON, 2003-12-27 (photo)

With the Washington Monument in the background, U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) chief veterinarian Ron DeHaven speaks during a press conference, in Washington, December 27, 2003. The USDA said on Saturday it believes the dairy cow infected with mad cow disease was imported to the United States from Canada in 2001. DeHaven told reporters the cow was likely one of a herd of 74 imported to Idaho from Alberta, Canada, in August 2001. This week's discovery of the first U.S. case of mad cow disease has halted most U.S. exports of beef, sent food company stocks tumbling and shaken consumer confidence. USDA Food Safety Veterinarian Ken Petersen looks on from left. REUTERS/Hyungwon Kang HK/GN