Latest news with #JamesCooper
Newsweek
27-05-2025
- Newsweek
California Mayor Issues Warning Over Mexican Sewage Flooding Beaches
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of gallons of sewage, contaminated water and trash flood into California from Mexico every day, and beaches in Coronado, San Diego County, closed over the weekend because of it. The city's mayor has said it risks becoming seen as the "toilet of Mexico," which could lead to a decrease in tourism. Why It Matters The Tijuana River, which crosses from Mexico into California before emptying into the Pacific Ocean, carries not only water but also millions of gallons of untreated sewage. The decades-old problem has sparked both health and environmental concerns. A stock image of a girl at a beach in Coronado, California, on October 4, 2023. A stock image of a girl at a beach in Coronado, California, on October 4, To Know Swimming was prohibited along the Coronado shoreline over Memorial Day weekend as San Diego County extended water contact closures due to ongoing sewage contamination, NBC San Diego reported on Sunday. The closures—which were already in effect for the Tijuana Slough shoreline, Imperial Beach and the Silver Strand—were expanded on Saturday to include Coronado's southwestern-facing beaches, the outlet said. Mayor John Duncan told The New York Times that fewer tourists were booking lodges in the resort city as a result of the forced beach closures. "My biggest concern as mayor is that the reputation as 'the toilet of Mexico' starts to stick at some point and really hurts us," he said. In recent years, San Diego County beaches have faced about 1,000 days of closures due to contamination. Local residents have reported falling ill, and military personnel stationed in the area have also been affected. A report from the Department of Defense's Office of Inspector General recorded 1,100 illness cases among Navy SEALs and other service members exposed to the polluted waters. What People Are Saying James Cooper, a professor at California Western School of Law, previously told Newsweek: "Beaches, north of where the Tijuana River meets the Pacific along the coast from Imperial Beach to Coronado, are closed more often than they are open. The bacterial dangers are immense for those brave enough to get into the Pacific. Surfers who hit the waves, U.S. Navy Seals who train in the area, ranchers whose animals drink water from the watershed, sea mammals who live in the Pacific are all negatively impacted by this ongoing environmental disaster." What Happens Next Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said on May 20 that the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission was fast-tracking an expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant—which treats sewage and wastewater flow from Tijuana—by 10 million gallons per day in an effort to mitigate the crisis. Zeldin previously said that at a meeting on April 21, Mexican Environmental Secretary Alicia Bárcena conveyed President Claudia Sheinbaum's commitment to building a strong partnership with the U.S. to resolve the issue. "Americans on our side of the border who have been dealing with this for decades are out of patience," Zeldin said at a news conference, as reported by The Epoch Times. "There's a very limited opportunity. What's being communicated by the new Mexican president is an intense desire to fully resolve this situation."
LeMonde
21-05-2025
- Health
- LeMonde
UK identifies atypical case of mad cow disease
A case of atypical "mad cow disease" has been found on a farm in eastern England, Britain's animal health agency said on Tuesday, May 20, but authorities said there was no food risk. A cow in the county of Essex showed clinical signs of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), as the neurologic disease is officially termed, and was culled on site, it said. The news came one day after Britain signed a post-Brexit agreement with the European Union, including a deal to reduce checks on food and plant products. BSE was first identified in Britain almost 40 years ago and has since spread around the world, causing a crisis in the beef industry. "Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE and is a spontaneously and sporadically occurring, non-contagious disease which is believed to occur at a very low level in all cattle populations," chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said in a statement from the agency. The atypical variant sporadically occurs in older cattle, while the classic form is spread when farmers feed their herds with the meat and bone meal of infected animals. This is the fourth case of atypical mad cow disease in the United Kingdom since 2015. The previous occurrence of the disease occurred last December in Scotland. The classic form poses more danger to humans, while BSE is linked to the fatal human condition Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, if contaminated meat is eaten. "There is no food safety risk" following the latest incident, James Cooper, deputy director of food policy at Britain's Food Standards Agency, said Tuesday. "There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity." The government said it had informed the World Organisation for Animal Health as well as trading partners regarding the case. "This does not affect the UK's ability to export beef to other countries," it added. Britain culled millions of cows during a BSE epidemic in the 1990s. Under the new deal with the EU, the UK will be able to sell British burgers and sausages in the neighboring bloc.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Animal culled as cattle disease found on a farm in region
A single case of atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Essex. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed that the animal showed some clinical signs of the naturally-occurring form of BSE and was humanely culled on farm. It was tested as part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (DEFRA) routine surveillance programme. SIGN UP HERE FOR YOUR WEEKLY FARMING BULLETIN BSE is a non-contagious but chronic degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of cattle. Government vets have stressed there is no risk to public health or food safety from this case. The animal - as fallen stock - was not destined to enter the food chain. Atypical BSE is a naturally occurring, non-contagious disease in cattle which occurs spontaneously. It is distinct from classical BSE which is linked to contaminated feed. This resulted in mass culls after it was discovered in the UK in 1986 before it was eventually eradicated. The last case of atypical BSE in the UK was in December 2024 in Scotland - with a total of four cases since 2015. Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: 'A single case of atypical BSE has been confirmed on a farm in Essex. The animal died on farm and was tested as part of our strict routine controls and surveillance regime. 'Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE and is a spontaneously and sporadically occurring, non-contagious disease which is believed to occur at a very low level in all cattle populations. This is proof that our surveillance system for detecting and containing this type of disease is working.' Dr James Cooper, Deputy Director of Food Policy at the Food Standards Agency said there was no risk to food safety. 'There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity. 'Consumers can be reassured that these important protection measures remain in place and that Food Standards Agency Official Veterinarians and Meat Hygiene Inspectors working in all abattoirs in England will continue to ensure that the safety of consumers remains the top priority.' Great Britain's overall risk status for BSE remains at "controlled' and there is no risk to food safety or public health. The World Organisation for Animal Health and trading partners have been informed of the case which does not affect the UK's ability to export beef to other countries. BSE is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect it, you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. Failure to do so is an offence. This applies to pet and small holder animals as well as commercial cattle.
Evening Standard
20-05-2025
- Health
- Evening Standard
Mad cow disease explained: What is BSE and can humans get it?
'There is no food safety risk. There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity,' Dr James Cooper, Deputy Director of Food Policy at the Food Standards Agency said.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
UK identifies atypical case of ‘mad cow' disease
Britain culled millions of cows during a BSE epidemic in the 1990s. PHOTO: REUTERS LONDON - A case of atypical 'mad cow disease' has been found on a farm in eastern England, Britain's animal health agency said on May 20, but authorities said there was no food risk. A cow in the county of Essex showed clinical signs of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), as the neurologic disease is officially termed, and was culled on site, it said. The news came one day after Britain signed a post-Brexit agreement with the European Union, including a deal to reduce checks on food and plant products. BSE was first identified in Britain almost 40 years ago and has since spread around the world, causing a crisis in the beef industry. 'Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE and is a spontaneously and sporadically occurring, non-contagious disease which is believed to occur at a very low level in all cattle populations,' chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said in a statement from the agency. The atypical variant sporadically occurs in older cattle, while the classic form is spread when farmers feed their herds with the meat and bone meal of infected animals. This is the fourth case of atypical mad cow disease in the UK since 2015. The previous occurrence of the disease occurred in December 2024 in Scotland. The classic form poses more danger to humans, while BSE is linked to the fatal human condition Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease if contaminated meat is eaten. 'There is no food safety risk' following the latest incident, James Cooper, deputy director of food policy at Britain's Food Standards Agency, said on May 20. 'There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity.' The government said it had informed the World Organisation for Animal Health as well as trading partners regarding the case. 'This does not affect the UK's ability to export beef to other countries,' it added. Britain culled millions of cows during a BSE epidemic in the 1990s. Under the new deal with the EU, the UK will be able to sell British burgers and sausages in the neighbouring bloc. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
