No scrapie found in tested sheep

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has found no new cases of scrapie after testing 26 sheep found at a farm near Chesley on June 6. They were among 31 adult sheep illegally removed from a quarantined farm in Eastern Ontario April 2. Efforts to trace the remaining five sheep continue.

Guy Gravelle, senior CFIA media relations officer, said test results were not unexpected. “A typical infected flock or herd sees an infection rate anywhere between three per cent and 30 per cent,” he said in an email. “Two sheep from the farm in Eastern Ontario had previously tested positive for scrapie.”

Scrapie can spread among sheep and goats without showing signs in the infected animals for several years. Genetically susceptible animals exposed to scrapie must be euthanized to allow for conclusive testing.
 
“The scrapie control measures taken by the CFIA are based on internationally accepted science, and are supported by the Canadian sheep and goat industries,” Gravelle’s email said.
 
While there is no known human health risk associated with scrapie, it has serious impacts on sheep and goat production and trade. BF