PENNSYLVANIA Second Adams County Deer Tests Positive for Chronic Wasting Disease
News for Immediate Release
Nov. 7, 2012
Second Adams County Deer Tests Positive for Chronic Wasting Disease
Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today confirmed the
state’s second positive case of Chronic Wasting Disease on a deer farm in Adams
County. Other deer on the farm that were tested did not have the disease. The
second deer, a white-tailed buck, tested positive at 1491 New Chester Road, New
Oxford. This is the same location of the state’s first infected deer in October.
In addition to the New Oxford farm, the agriculture department quarantined 27
farms in 16 counties associated with the positive samples. Deer cannot be moved
on or off quarantined properties.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission established a disease management area
(DMA) surrounding the Adams County farm where the deer tested positive. As part
of that plan, hunters may not move high-risk deer parts out of the area,
including parts of the head and spinal column.
“Since the first positive deer was found in Pennsylvania last month, the
Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force has put in place aggressive measures to
prevent further spread of the disease,” Agriculture Secretary George Greig said.
“This positive deer was found because of those efforts, and we will continue our
work to protect the state’s captive and wild deer populations.”
The Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force meets weekly and carries out a
response plan, including education and outreach through public meetings and
minimizing risk factors through continued surveillance, testing and management.
Task Force members are from the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture, Health
and Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, U.S. Geological Survey/Pennsylvania Cooperative
Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Penn State University.
Hunters who harvest a deer within the DMA during the two-week firearms deer
season (Nov. 26-Dec. 8) are required to bring their deer to a mandatory check
station so samples can be collected for testing.
For the convenience of hunters, all cooperating deer processors within the
DMA boundaries will be considered check stations. The Game Commission will be
gathering samples from hunter-killed deer at those processors.
A list of cooperating deer processors and taxidermists from within the area
will be announced and posted on the commission’s website.
Hunters who harvest a deer within the DMA and who process their own deer,
or who would like to take their deer to a processor or taxidermist outside of
the management area, can visit the Game Commission operated check station. It is
located at the agency’s maintenance building on State Game Land 249, 1070 Lake
Meade Road, East Berlin, Adams County. GPS coordinates for the building are -
77.07280 and 39.97018.
Game Commission check station hours during the two-week rifle deer season
are from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, but will remain open as
needed. The check station will be closed on Sunday, Dec. 2.
Deer harvested outside of the management area will not be eligible for
testing at the check station; however, hunters may get their deer tested by the
Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Laboratory in Harrisburg, for a fee.
Interested hunters should call 717-787-8808.
Chronic Wasting disease attacks the brains of infected antlered animals
such as deer, elk and moose, producing small lesions that eventually result in
death. Animals can get the disease through direct contact with saliva, feces and
urine from an infected animal.
There is no evidence that humans or livestock can get the disease,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms include weight loss, excessive salivation, increased drinking and
urination, and abnormal behavior like stumbling, trembling and depression.
Infected deer and elk may also allow unusually close approach by humans or
natural predators. The disease is fatal and there is no known treatment or
vaccine. Surveillance for the disease has been ongoing in Pennsylvania since
1998. The agriculture department coordinates a mandatory monitoring program for
more than 23,000 captive deer on 1,100 breeding farms, hobby farms and shooting
preserves. The Game Commission collects samples from hunter-harvested deer and
elk and those that appear sick or behave abnormally. Since 1998, the commission
has tested more than 38,000 free-ranging deer and elk for the disease and all
have tested negative.
For more information, visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on the
“Chronic Wasting Disease Information” button on the homepage.
Media contacts:
Samantha Elliott Krepps, Agriculture, 717-787-5085
Jerry Feaser, PGC, 717-705-6541
###
Thursday, November 01, 2012
PA GAME COMMISSION TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS CWD Release #128-12
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Pennsylvania Confirms First Case CWD Adams County Captive Deer Tests
Positive
Monday, October 15, 2012
PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION AND AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT TO HOLD PUBLIC
MEETING TO DISCUSS CWD MONITORING EFFORTS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 15,
2012 Release #124-12
Pennsylvania CWD number of deer exposed and farms there from much greater
than first thought
Published: Wednesday, October 17, 2012, 10:44 PM Updated: Wednesday,
October 17, 2012, 11:33 PM
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
PA Captive deer from CWD-positive farm roaming free
Friday, October 26, 2012
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD PENNSYLVANIA GAME FARMS, URINE ATTRACTANT
PRODUCTS, BAITING, AND MINERAL LICKS
Friday, October 12, 2012
*** Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is Now Accepting Comments on Rule
Proposals for “Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)” ***
TO: comments@tahc.state.tx.us;
Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)
*** Saturday, October 6, 2012
TRANSMISSION, DIFFERENTIATION, AND PATHOBIOLOGY OF TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM
ENCEPHALOPATHIES 2011 Annual Report
Friday, August 24, 2012
Diagnostic accuracy of rectal mucosa biopsy testing for chronic wasting
disease within white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herds in North America
Friday, August 31, 2012
COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK and CWD 2009-2012 a
review
TSS
posted by Terry S. Singeltary Sr. at
11:53 AM
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