BSE tidbit of the week

USDA licenses two new rapid BSE screening tests.

On Mar 15 the USDA vowed to test as many as possible of the estimated 446,000 US cattle considered to be at increased risk for BSE in a one-time program to determine the prevalence of the disease. The agency didn't set a specific numerical goal, but said the program would detect 1 case of BSE in 10 million cattle with a 99% confidence level if 268,000 cattle were tested.

Just a bit cynical about these numbers when Japan finds 11 cases of BSE after testing 100% of their slaughtered cows. I'm definitely not a numbers whiz or a statistician but I don't trust the USDA for some reason.