Scrapie: the risks in perspective

Authors: Bruere AN
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 26, Issue 1-2, pp 36-37, Jan 1978
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Biosecurity, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Nervous system/neurology, Spongiform encephalopathies, Disease/defect, Infectious disease
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Dr Adlam`s sage-like approach to the risks of importing exotic breeds of sheep from countries in which scrapie is endemic does not alleviate my fears and alarm. I simply wish to refer back to my original article which indicates that until such time as we have an efficient diagnostic test for scrapie carriers the only way to prevent its entry into a country is by total embargo of sheep from countries where the disease is endemic. This was the line of action followed in N.Z. for 18 years and is still followed in Australia. How anyone believes that, with all the uncertainties of this disease, it can be effectively eliminated by “quarantine” (be that ever so elaborate) is beyond my comprehension…

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