Which statement about scrapie in United States sheep is accurate?

Which statement about scrapie in United States sheep is accurate?

• A. Scrapie has never been seen in the United States
• B. Scrapie has been eradicated from all U.S. flocks
• C. Scrapie has been seen in U.S. sheep since the 1940s
• D. Scrapie is currently present in goats only and remains in sheep flocks

Answer: (C)

Scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting small ruminants. In the United States, scrapie has been recognized in sheep since the 1940s, with cases reported across multiple states and ongoing surveillance under eradication efforts. This history makes the statement true: scrapie has been seen in U.S. sheep since the 1940s. It is not accurate to say it never occurred in the U.S., nor that it’s eradicated from all flocks, and it isn’t limited to goats while leaving sheep completely free of disease—sheep flocks have long been affected and remain a focus of control along with goats.

Scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting small ruminants. In the United States, scrapie has been recognized in sheep since the 1940s, with cases reported across multiple states and ongoing surveillance under eradication efforts. This history makes the statement true: scrapie has been seen in U.S. sheep since the 1940s. It is not accurate to say it never occurred in the U.S., nor that it’s eradicated from all flocks, and it isn’t limited to goats while leaving sheep completely free of disease—sheep flocks have long been affected and remain a focus of control along with goats.