Argentina has confirmed the first cases of classical scrapie.

The Senasa confirmed positive cases in Dorper breed sheep in establishments in Santa Fe and Entre Ríos. Origin: The affected animals were imported between 2021 and 2022 from Paraguay, complying at the time with sanitary protocols. Scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (similar to "mad cow disease") caused by prions that affect the central nervous system, causing intense itching (pruritus), ataxia, and death. Impact: Argentina loses the status of a scrapie-free country before the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). It is not a zoonotic disease, so it does not pose a risk to public health. Measures: Senasa protocols are being executed to contain the outbreak. Sheep producers express great concern about the economic consequences and export restrictions. Related ...