Research: Active disease surveillance: TSE statistics

Statistics on the active disease surveillance of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) and the Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme.

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

This publication is no longer updated as ‘Official Statistics’ and has been changed to a ‘Research and analysis’ publication type.

This amendment does not change the content or the timing of the updates but reflects the conclusions from a wider review of the classification of statistical releases across the Defra group.

Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) collates summary statistics on the number of cases of TSE disease found through active and passive disease surveillance of animals. This includes summary statistics on the number of submissions tested and cases found from through the Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme.

European law requires all Member States to carry out active disease surveillance for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle, and scrapie in sheep and goats. This data are used to determine the disease status for the UK.

Since 2004, disease control measures require sheep flocks and goat herds to join the Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme (CSFS) when a case of scrapie is confirmed. Subsequent cases of scrapie in these flocks and herds are reported separately.

APHA provides summary statistics on the number of submissions tested and cases found through the CSFS testing routes (initial cull, annual cull and fallen stock) in Great Britain.

Passive disease surveillance takes place when an animal with clinical signs suspicious of a TSE disease is reported to an APHA office, and further investigation determines whether the animal was affected by BSE or scrapie.

The Active TSE surveillance in Northern Ireland and the Active TSE surveillance in Great Britain spreadsheets have been updated.

Active TSE surveillance in Northern Ireland attachment updated.