Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. Infected flocks that contain a high percentage of susceptible animals can experience significant production losses. In these flocks over a period of several years, the number of infected animals increases and the age at onset of clinical signs decreases, making these flocks economically unviable. Animals sold from infected flocks spread scrapie to other flocks. Australia has implemented numerous control measures to remain scrapie free.

First recognised as a disease of sheep in Great Britain and other countries of Western Europe more than 250 years ago, scrapie has been reported throughout the world.

The scrapie agent is thought to be spread most commonly from the ewe to her offspring and to other lambs in contemporary lambing groups through contact with the placenta and placental fluids. 

Unlike BSE, there is no scientific evidence to indicate that scrapie poses a risk to human health. There is no evidence that scrapie in sheep and goats is transmitted to humans, such as through contact on the farm, at slaughter plants, or butcher shops, or through the consumption of sheep or goat meat/milk products.