U.S. Agriculture Department: new tests of mad cow disease

Senior congressional Democrats on food and farm issues asked Monday why the Agriculture Department suddenly ordered new tests on tissue from a cow declared free of &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/2001/09/06/14379.html ' target=_blank>mad cow disease seven months ago.

Now, a brain sample from the cow is being sent to England for further study because a third round of tests came back positive late Friday. The Agriculture Department's inspector general suddenly ordered those tests last week.

The department has not explained why the new tests were ordered. The inspector general's office, an independent arm of the agency, would not comment Monday, saying a brief statement would be issued Tuesday, informs the Washington Post.