- Scrapie was confirmed in a sheep with clinical signs from a small flock in the Rimouski district of Quebec in February 2008.
- The farm has been placed under quarantine and testing and destruction of high-risk animals is underway. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), with full cooperation from the producer, is reviewing farm records to determine any movements of animals onto and off of the premises during the past five years.
- This is the second case of scrapie confirmed in Canada in 2008. The first case was confirmed in a ewe from a sheep flock in the Belleville district of Ontario in January. That case was detected through the national scrapie surveillance program.
- Routine detections of scrapie are expected through the national surveillance program.
- Producers are encouraged to report all sheep and goats aged 12 months and older that die on their farm or exhibit unexplained weight loss with no loss of appetite, problems standing or walking, or other changes in behaviour.
- Active participation of producers and veterinarians in the national scrapie surveillance program is necessary to help control and eradicate the disease.
Annual Scrapie Flock Incidence: 1984-2007
