FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 6, 2015
Contact: Chad Stewart, 517-282-4810 or 517-641-4903 ext. 263
DNR confirms third deer positive for CWD; hunter participation is critical
this fall
Today, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced that a third
free-ranging deer in Meridian Township (Ingham County) has tested positive for
chronic wasting disease (CWD). The deer was a 5-year-old doe. All three
CWD-positive deer detected thus far have been discovered within a mile of one
another.
“As we stated with the second positive deer, this news is not surprising,”
said Dr. Steve Schmitt, DNR wildlife veterinarian. “The good news is that all
three deer came from the same small area.” Genetic analyses carried out by
Michigan State University’s Molecular Ecology Laboratory indicate that all three
positive animals were related as part of an extended family. Previous research
has shown that CWD often is transmitted within family groups because of their
close contact.
Hunters are critical to helping the DNR understand the prevalence and
geographic distribution of the disease.
“We have focused our efforts thus far in the area around the first case,”
Schmitt continued. ”We need individuals who have always hunted in Ingham County
and surrounding counties to keep hunting. The DNR can’t fight this disease
without their support. Hunters need to have their deer checked and tested so we
can determine if this disease is established over a broad area or just
persisting in a local pocket.”
In addition, it is critical that if an individual hunts outside Michigan in
a state or province that has CWD in their free-ranging deer, elk, or moose that
only the following parts of deer, elk, or moose carcasses are brought into
Michigan:
Deboned meat. Antlers. Antlers attached to a skull cap cleaned of all brain
and muscle tissue. Hides. Upper canine teeth. Finished taxidermy mount. If a
hunter is notified by another state or province that a deer, elk, or moose that
was brought into Michigan tested positive for CWD, that hunter must contact the
DNR Wildlife Disease Lab within two business days (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at
517-336-5030.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule
deer, elk and moose. It is caused by the transmission of infectious,
self-multiplying proteins (prions) contained in saliva and other body fluids of
infected animals. Susceptible animals can acquire CWD by direct exposure to
these fluids, or from environments contaminated with these fluids or the carcass
of a diseased animal.
Some chronically CWD-infected animals will display abnormal behaviors,
progressive weight loss and physical debilitation. There is no cure; once a deer
is infected with CWD, it will die.
To date, there is no evidence that chronic wasting disease presents any
risk to non-cervids, including humans, either through contact with an infected
animal or from handling venison. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend that infected
animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.
The DNR provides CWD weekly updates online at www.michigan.gov/cwd.
Announcements of additional CWD-positive deer within that same area will be
listed online. Additional news updates will be issued if a CWD-positive deer is
found outside the immediate area.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Michigan confirms CWD in second free-ranging white-tailed deer
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Michigan confirms state's first case of chronic wasting disease in
free-ranging white-tailed deer
Wednesday, August 05, 2015
*** Ohio confirms to me Chronic Wasting Disease CWD Spreads 19 confirmed
cases to date ***
Just got off the phone with Christy Clevenger of Ohio
Ohio Department of Agriculture March 2012 – Present (3 years 6
months)Reynoldsburg, Ohio CWD program
Ms. Clevenger confirmed, to date, from the Yoder debacle, 1 confirmed case
of CWD from the Hunting Preserve, 2 confirmed cases from the Breeding Farm, and
16 confirmed cases of CWD from the Breeder Depopulation, with a total to date of
19 cases of CWD in Ohio...
Terry
Saturday, August 01, 2015
Texas CWD Medina Captive Two more deer test positive for chronic wasting
disease CWD TSE Prion
Sunday, August 02, 2015
TEXAS CWD, Have you been ThunderStruck, deer semen, straw bred bucks, super
ovulation, and the potential TSE Prion connection, what if?
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
FDA U.S. Measures to Protect Against BSE
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
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