Research and analysis

Annual report to Parliament on the monitoring programme for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) – 2024 and 2025

Published 2 June 2026

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Introduction

Assimilated Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 lays down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in livestock.

These consist of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), scrapie (affecting sheep and goats), and chronic wasting disease (CWD, affecting cervids such as deer). Article 6.4 of the Regulation requires an annual report to Parliament on the monitoring programme for TSEs.

This report covers data for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for the 2024 and 2025 calendar years.

View detailed statistics, including monthly updates and historical data from 2007 onwards

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle

Under our surveillance programme, 98,862 cattle were tested for BSE in 2024, and 92,324 cattle were tested for BSE in 2025.

Bovine animals are tested for BSE in accordance with the requirements set out in assimilated Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, based on age, origin and circumstances of death.

Outcomes

During the 2024 surveillance year, one confirmed atypical case and one confirmed classical case of BSE were identified. In 2025, two confirmed cases of atypical BSE were identified through routine surveillance activity.

All four cases were detected through fallen stock surveillance. These animals were not destined for the human food chain and posed no risk to public health.

Classical BSE case - epidemiological investigation

One case of classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was confirmed in Great Britain in 2024. The case was confirmed on 9 May 2024 in a 7.5-year-old cow on a beef suckler holding in Scotland. An epidemiological investigation was undertaken by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in accordance with statutory requirements.

Tracing identified two offspring born within 24 months prior to the onset of disease; one was restricted, euthanised and tested with a negative result, and the other had previously been slaughtered for human consumption and was not eligible for testing.

In addition, 45 cohort animals were identified and traced; of these, 43 were placed under restriction, culled and tested for BSE, all with negative results.

Investigations were carried out at both the holding of birth and the holding of death. No breaches of feed or TSE control legislation were identified. Several potential exposure pathways were examined and assessed as very low likelihood events with high uncertainty, and the source of infection remained undetermined.

Classical BSE is not contagious, so it does not spread directly between animals. It occurs mainly through the consumption of feed contaminated with the BSE agent. Occasional cases are to be expected, and this is in line with projections for the tail end of the 1992 epidemic.

The affected animal was detected through fallen stock surveillance and did not enter the food chain. The investigation concluded that existing control measures were effectively implemented and that there was no risk to public health or food safety.

Atypical BSE

Atypical BSE is a spontaneous naturally occurring non-contagious disease, distinct from classical BSE. It is believed to occur in all cattle populations at a very low rate.

The cohort and offspring of these cases were identified, placed under restriction, culled and tested in accordance with legislative requirements. All samples tested negative for BSE.

View detailed testing data by survey type, age class and location

Scrapie in sheep and goats

We monitor the level of scrapie in the national sheep flock and goat herd through active surveillance in line with legislative requirements. This includes annual testing of 20,000 sheep and 500 goats in the UK.

Outcomes

2024

In 2024, 17,501 sheep and 500 goats were tested in Great Britain.

7 confirmed cases of atypical scrapie were identified in sheep, each in a separate flock.

There were no classical scrapie cases detected in 2024.

2025

In 2025, 17,287 sheep and 515 goats were tested in Great Britain.

15 confirmed cases of atypical scrapie were identified in sheep, each in a separate flock.

All these flocks were placed under the restrictions required by legislation.

There was one confirmed case of classical scrapie in Kent in 2025. The case was linked to a natal holding in Wales. Both farms were placed under restriction and animals removed from the food chain.

Holdings where classical or atypical scrapie is confirmed are subject to the Compulsory Scrapie Flock Scheme (CSFS), which imposes strict testing and control requirements.

Atypical scrapie usually affects individual animals older than five years and is believed to occur spontaneously, in contrast to classical scrapie which is contagious and affects younger animals.

View detailed testing data for sheep and goats

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in cervids

CWD is a notifiable disease under assimilated Regulation (EC) No 999/2001. There is no requirement for active surveillance of CWD in Great Britain. However, any suspect cases must be reported and tested.

Outcomes

During the reporting period, no suspect cases of CWD were reported. There have been no confirmed cases of CWD in Great Britain to date.

Further information

Detailed surveillance data required under Annex III, Chapter B, Part I of assimilated Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 is published on GOV.UK and updated monthly. This includes surveillance statistics for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), scrapie in sheep and goats, and chronic wasting disease (CWD).

Enquiries regarding this report should be sent to TSEgeneralmailbox@defra.gov.uk.