Animal diseases
This section includes information about BSE (mad cow disease) and atypical scrapie as well as the updates issued during outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu), foot and mouth, and bluetongue. The Food Standards Agency is responsible for ensuring that animal diseases do not pose a risk to food safety. Defra is the lead Government department for animal diseases and animal welfare.
Find out more
Atypical scrapie
Scientific tests have identified a brain disease in sheep called atypical scrapie. The disease comes from the same family of diseases as 'classical' scrapie in sheep (which has been around for over 200 years and is not known to be harmful to people) and BSE in cattle (from which humans can get the fatal disease variant CJD).
BSE and goats
There are only two confirmed cases of BSE in a sheep or a goat that were not infected experimentally. These were in a French goat that died in 2002 and a Scottish goat that died in 1990.
BSE and other Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies
Cattle, sheep and goats can be susceptible to a group of brain diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). The best known of these diseases is BSE (mad cow disease) in cattle.
BSE and sheep
BSE has never been found in the UK sheep flock. However, some sheep were fed the same feed (meat and bone meal) that is thought to have given cattle BSE and laboratory research has shown that sheep can be artificially infected with BSE. It is possible that BSE is hidden by scrapie in sheep and passed between flocks or from a mother to her lambs.
Foot and mouth disease outbreak
This section includes updates issued during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2007, giving information to food business operators on the impact of the disease on meat production. During such an outbreak, FSA operational workforce responsibilities include inspecting and recommending re-approval of affected sites that have been cleansed and disinfected to the official vet’s satisfaction.
Swine flu
Swine flu does not pose a food safety risk to consumers. Swine flu has not been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products. This also applies to poultry that has been affected by the virus. Influenza is not transmissable to people through eating properly handled and cooked meat, products and eggs.