Published Date: 2002-04-12 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH> BSE? Sheep - USA (Vermont)
Archive Number: 20020412.3937

BSE? SHEEP - USA (VERMONT)
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See Also

2001
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BSE sheep - USA (Vermont) 20010323.0579
2000
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BSE? sheep - USA (Vermont) (06) 20000724.1223
BSE? sheep - USA (Vermont) (02) 20000719.1189
BSE? sheep - USA (Vermont) 20000717.1184
Date: 11 Apr 2002
From: Thomas Walton <thomas.e.walton@usda.gov>

Testing to Continue on Imported Sheep Confiscated Last Year
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WASHINGTON, 11 Apr 2002 -- Today, the US Department of Agriculture
(USDA) announced tests conducted on a flock of sheep confiscated last
year from a farm in Vermont confirm that 2 of the 125 sheep tested
positive for an atypical undifferentiated transmissible spongiform
encephalopathy (TSE) of foreign origin. The flock of 125 sheep was
confiscated in March 2001 after 4 animals from an associated flock
tested positive for TSE in July 2000. USDA will continue to conduct
additional tests to determine the type of TSE in these sheep.
"These results confirm our previous conclusions were correct and that
we took the appropriate preventative actions in confiscating these
animals," said Bobby Acord, administrator of USDA's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service. "USDA's actions to confiscate, sample and
destroy these sheep were on target. As a result of our vigilance,
none of these confiscated animals entered the animal or human food
supply."
The sheep, imported from Belgium and the Netherlands in 1996, were
placed under certain federal restrictions when they entered the
country as part of USDA's scrapie control efforts. In 1998, USDA
learned it was likely sheep from Europe were exposed to feed
contaminated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). At that
time, the state of Vermont, at the request of USDA, imposed a
quarantine on these flocks, which prohibited slaughter or sale for
breeding purposes.
On 10 Jul 2000, several sheep from the flock tested positive for a
TSE, a class of degenerative neurological diseases characterized by a
very long incubation period and a 100 percent mortality rate in
infected sheep. The better known varieties of TSE are scrapie in
sheep and BSE in cattle. There is no evidence that scrapie poses a
risk to human health.
On 14 Jul 2000, USDA issued a declaration of extraordinary emergency
to acquire the sheep. This action was contested by the flock owners.
A federal district court judge ruled in favor of USDA based on the
merits of the case. The flock owners appealed to the Second Circuit
Court requesting a stay, which was denied. The sheep were confiscated
by USDA in March 2001 and transported to USDA's National Veterinary
Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, where they were humanely
euthanized. Tissue samples were collected from the sheep for
diagnostic testing and USDA will continue with additional tests which
could take up to 2-3 years to complete. In all, USDA has acquired 380
sheep from a total of 3 flocks. All of the animals were humanely
euthanized, sampled and disposed and did not enter the animal or
human food supply.
"Our goal continues to be to prevent, detect and eradicate foreign
animal diseases to protect American agriculture, natural resources
and consumers," said Acord. "We will continue to utilize the
scientific results of these and other tests conducted during the last
several years to strengthen our extensive surveillance, monitoring
and prevention efforts."
For more information about USDA's ongoing surveillance, monitoring
and prevention efforts as it relates to this situation, please visit

--
Thomas Walton
<thomas.e.walton@usda.gov>
............................tg/pg/lm
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