At least eight nations around the world have suspended imports of US beef, after the discovery of the first known case of mad cow disease in the United States.

Japan, the world's top importer of U.S. beef, imposed an indefinite ban and planned to recall certain meat products already on the market.

South Korea halted customs inspections of U.S. beef and suspended sales for meat already on supermarket shelves.

Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Russia and South Africa followed suit.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government issued a temporary ban and Taiwan said U.S. beef could face a seven-year export ban.

The moves came after the U.S. government announced that a Holstein cow on a Washington State farm tested positive for mad cow disease, marking the disease's first suspected appearance in the United States.

US secretary of agriculture, Ann Veneman, says a sample from the suspect cow has been sent to Britain for tests, and it is too early to say whether it will be an isolated case.

(CRI.com)

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