USDA?s SOSS Report Phase II Released

March 19, 2004 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture?s (USDA) Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health released the Phase II: Scrapie: Ovine Slaughter Surveillance Study 2002-2003 (SOSS) report this week.

The SOSS study was completed by APHIS? Veterinary Services program with the assistance of the USDA?s Food Safety Inspection Service, the American Sheep Industry Association and contract laboratories.

The objective of SOSS was to estimate the national and regional prevalence of scrapie in mature sheep. The study determined the weighted estimate for the national scrapie prevalence in mature sheep to be 0.20 percent.

The report also details the weighted prevalence estimates by face color and age as well as provides specific information about how the study was designed and conducted.

A copy of the full report can be located at: SOSS.

Staff contact: Paul Rodgers, 304-647-9981

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