Confirmed...

An Alberta dairy cow does indeed have mad cow disease, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is reporting.

International media are still reporting that the border should remain open. The US Department of Agriculture confirmed on Thursday that regardless of the results, the border will re-open as scheduled in March.

The 19 month shutdown has had a dramatic affect on the beef industry on both sides of the border, and estimated to have cost just the Canadian side over $4 billion dollars.

From a communications/junk science perspective, it's encouraging that regulatory officials are using a sound science/risk assessment methodology rather than a knee-jerk response. Let's hope the next time regulatory officials decide to impose a regulatory response based on emotion that it won't cost so much next time...

What will "the next time" be? Developing...