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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Agriculture Department confirmed on Tuesday that it found a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, the nation’s fourth, in a dairy cow in central California.

The USDA has begun to notify world animal health authorities at the OIE as well as its trading partners, but the finding should not affect the nation’s beef exports, said John Clifford, the USDA’s chief veterinary officer.

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“There is really no concern for alarm here with regards to this animal. Both human health and animal health are protected with regards to this issue,” Clifford told reporters at a briefing at USDA headquarters.

The first outbreak of mad cow in the United States occurred in late 2003, roiling global trade in beef.

It is believed that humans can contract a similar deadly brain disease by eating infected parts from an animal with mad cow disease.

Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell by as much as the 3-cent-per-lb daily limit on Tuesday on fund liquidation and selling stemming from the rumors.

“The impact should not affect expects. Now, I’m not saying it may or may not, but it should not,” Clifford said, noting that the United States has been recognized by authorities as having taken steps to control its risks for the disease.

“There is really no concern for alarm here with regards to this animal. Both human health and animal health are protected with regards to this issue,” Clifford said.