Michigan goat tests positive for fatal, contagious disease

LANSING, Mich. (AP)--State agriculture officials say a 3-year-old Ottawa County goat tested positive for a fatal and contagious disease found in goats and sheep.

The female goat tested positive for Scrapie. The Michigan Department of Agriculture says in a statement the discovery means Michigan goats no longer meet federal requirements to be classified as low-risk.

It's the second goat in the state since 2000 with a confirmed case of Scrapie, a disease that's similar to mad cow disease in cattle and chronic wasting disease in deer and elk. It's not known to pose a risk to humans.

Officials say the disease likely was transmitted from another goat.

The nation's first reported case of Scrapie occurred in Michigan in 1947 and since has been diagnosed in more than 650 flocks in 42 states.

4/7/08
4 Star NE\17-B

Date: 4/2/08

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Michigan goat tests positive for fatal, contagious disease

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