CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE DISCOVERED IN DEER HUNT AREA 46
Source: http://gf.state.wy.us/
Published: Oct. 19, 2009
CODY-Chronic wasting disease (CWD) a fatal neurological disease of deer, elk and moose, has been discovered in deer hunt area 46 on the west slope of the Bighorn Mountains. A mule deer buck taken on September 13, 2009 in the Shell Creek drainage about 14 miles east of the town of Shell has tested positive for the disease.
"The closest known CWD area is deer hunt area 27, which is about 35-40 miles east of hunt area 46 on the east slope of the Bighorns," said Hank Edwards, Wildlife Disease Specialist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
According to Edwards the geographic range of animals with CWD currently includes 11 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces and is likely to continue to grow. "CWD is now found in seven deer hunt areas in the Big Horn Basin (Areas 37, 41, 120, 122, 125, 127, 164)," Edwards said.
After a review of available scientific data, the World Health Organization in December 1999 stated, "There is currently no evidence that CWD in cervidae (deer and elk) is transmitted to humans." In 2004, Dr. Ermias Belay of the Center for Disease Control said, "The lack of evidence of a link between CWD transmission and unusual cases of CJD, [Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a human prion disease] despite several epidemiological investigations, suggest that the risk, if any, of transmission of CWD to humans is low." Nonetheless to avoid risk, both organizations say parts or products from any animal that looks sick and/or tests positive for CWD should not be eaten.
Statewide, a total of 4,070 deer, elk, and moose samples were analyzed in 2008. Of these samples, 125 tested positive for CWD representing 95 mule deer, 14 white-tailed deer, 15 elk, and one moose.
(Contact: Dennie Hammer (307) 527-7125)
(Contact: Dennie Hammer (307) 527-7125)
-WGFD-
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