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Routine slaughter testing detected the case. There is no known risk to people, and most Oregon producers are unaffected.
By Oregon Department of Agriculture,
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is announcing the confirmation of classical scrapie in a sheep slaughtered in a facility in Oregon. The animal was tested as part of USDA’s ongoing national scrapie surveillance program, which is designed to identify classical scrapie in sheep and goats at slaughter facilities.
Classical scrapie is a fatal, degenerative prion disease of sheep and goats. The disease can be present in apparently healthy animals, making slaughter surveillance critical for early detection. Classical scrapie typically requires several years to produce clinical signs, and affected animals generally live only months after symptom onset.
Upon confirmation, ODA began an epidemiological investigation to identify the flock of origin and determine whether any potentially exposed animals are located within Oregon. This joint response supports the national effort to eradicate classical scrapie from the United States. Before this confirmation, the United States had gone more than five years without a case. The United States was positioned to meet WOAH’s 7-year benchmark for self-declared scrapie freedom in January 2028. USDA says the confirmed detection could reset that timeline and may push the earliest possible date for national scrapie-free status to approximately 2033.
APHIS expects minimal impact on trade. Most countries restrict live animal exports only from affected flocks or premises, and products such as wool remain unaffected.
ODA asks Oregon sheep and goat producers to take four steps:
- Keep official identification current. Sheep and goats need official ID before they leave the premises where they were born, so animals can be traced if a case is found.
- Watch for signs. Rubbing or scratching against fences and posts, tremors, an unsteady or high-stepping walk, changes in behavior, and weight loss in an animal that is still eating well.
- Call your veterinarian right away if you see those signs. Oregon law requires veterinarians to notify ODA by phone as soon as they suspect scrapie, before any lab testing. You can also call ODA’s disease reporting line directly at 503-986-4711.
- Ask your veterinarian about breeding for scrapie resistance. Some sheep carry genetics that make them highly resistant to classical scrapie, and breeding for those traits protects a flock over time.
For more information about Oregon’s scrapie surveillance program, producers may visit ODA’s scrapie website at https://oda.direct/scrapie. [6] More information about scrapie and APHIS’ eradication program is available at: www.aphis.usda.gov [7].
Producers or owners who suspect an animal disease should contact their veterinarian to evaluate the animal or herd. Scrapie is a reportable disease in Oregon. Veterinarians and diagnostic laboratories must immediately report suspected cases to ODA’s State Veterinarian.