Analysis of the results of the French small ruminants scrapie surveillance scheme
Bilan et analyse de trente mois de fonctionnement du réseau français d'épidémiosurveillance de la tremblante des petits ruminants
Abstract
The French Small Ruminant Scrapie Surveillance Scheme has been operating since scrapie became a notifiable disease in France on 14 June 1996. By 1 April 1999, suspicion of scrapie had been reported in 209 sheep flocks and 7 goat flocks, and histopathological diagnosis had been confirmed in 164 sheep flocks and 2 goat flocks. Scrapie was suspected in 37 counties and outbreaks occurred in 24 counties, one of them having 70% of the outbreaks. 66 outbreaks were identified in 1997 and 44 were identified in 1998. The cumulated incidence rate of sheep scrapie was significantly higher in 6 of the 23 counties in which scrapie was identified, compared with the national cumulated incidence rate (1.7/1000 flocks)