FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2019
TAHC CWD Containment Zone Established for Portions of Val Verde County
AUSTIN -- In response to the confirmation of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a free-ranging white-tailed deer in Val Verde County, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) Executive Director established a CWD High Risk Area Containment Zone (CZ) in a portion of the affected area on December 20, 2019. "Though CWD has not been discovered in non-native or 'exotic' susceptible species in Val Verde County, we believe the recent detection creates a high risk for exotic species to be exposed to or develop CWD in that area," said Dr. Andy Schwartz, TAHC Executive Director and State Veterinarian. "By establishing a Containment Zone alongside our partners at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), we hope this will limit the spread of CWD and allow us to better understand the distribution and prevalence of the disease in this area."
Exotic CWD susceptible species include North American elk or wapiti, black tailed deer, red deer, reindeer, Sika deer, moose, and any associated subspecies and hybrids. The Executive Director Order declares that portion of the state lying within the boundaries of a line beginning in Val Verde County at the International Bridge and proceeding northeast along Spur 239 to U.S. 90; thence north along U.S. 90 to the intersection of U.S. 277/377, thence north along U.S. 277/377 to the U.S. 277/377 bridge at Lake Amistad (29.496183°, -100.913355°), thence west along the southern shoreline of Lake Amistad to International boundary at Lake Amistad dam, thence south along the Rio Grande River to the International Bridge on Spur 239 to be a CWD High Risk Area Containment Zone (hereinafter referred to as CZ).
The following requirements apply to all exotic CWD susceptible species within the CZ:
• Live susceptible species may not be moved from the CZ.
• Live susceptible species may only be released within a high fenced premises and must have official identification.
• All hunter harvested susceptible species, 16 months of age or older, must be CWD tested by a certified individual or moved directly to a TPWD Check Station in Val Verde County for CWD testing within 48 hours of harvest. The test results must be provided to the TAHC within 30 days of receiving the test results.
• Prior to movement out of the CZ, all susceptible species carcasses, or carcass parts, must undergo approved CWD testing within 48 hours of harvest and meet the requirements of 4 TAC §40.6(e) related to carcass movement restrictions.
TPWD established a CWD Surveillance and Containment Zone in the affected area on December 19, 2019, which restricts movement and mandates testing requirements for native species. For more information visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/ValVerdeCWD.
CWD among cervids is a progressive, fatal neurological disease that commonly results in altered behavior as a result of microscopic changes made to the brain of affected animals. An animal may carry the disease for years without outward indication, but in the latter stages, signs may include listlessness, lowering of the head, weight loss, repetitive walking in set patterns, and a lack of responsiveness. To date there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk to humans or non-cervids. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend not to consume meat from infected animals.
Hunters are encouraged to report any “sick looking” deer, elk, or other CWD susceptible species while hunting in any CWD zone to TPWD. Contact information for the CWD zone check stations is found within the CWD section of the current Outdoor Annual and associated smart device application. To report a “sick looking” deer outside of a CWD zone, contact a TPWD wildlife biologist or Texas Game Warden. TPWD will continue to collect samples from all hunted properties located within the containment and surveillance zone as well as roadkills. The TAHC and TPWD are seeking as many additional samples for testing as can obtain in order to get a better handle on the geographic extent and prevalence of the disease in this area.
A public meeting is being planned by TPWD, TAHC and TAMU AgriLife to gather public comment, provide information, and discuss the containment strategy moving forward. The date, time and location for this meeting will be announced at a later date on the TAHC and TPWD websites and social media accounts.
For more information about CWD, visit the TAHC web site or the TPWD web site .
###
TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ORDER DECLARING A CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE HIGH RISK AREA CONTAINMENT ZONE FOR PORTIONS OF VAL VERDE COUNTY
Under the provisions of Texas Agriculture Code, 5161.061, if the Texas Animal Health Commission (Commission) determines that a disease listed 161.041 exists in a place in this state, the Commission shall establish a quarantine on the affected place. Pursuant to *161.0615, the Commission may quarantine exotic livestock in all or any part of this state as a means of immediately restricting movement of animals potentially infected with disease and shall clearly describe the territory included in a quarantine area. The Commission by rule may delegate its quarantine authority to the Executive Director of the Texas Animal Health Commission. Under the provisions of 4 TAC *40.7, the Executive Director may issue an order to declare a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) high risk area or county based on sound epidemiological principles for disease detection, control, and eradication.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects some cervid species, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, North American elk or wapiti (Cervus Canadensis), red deer (Cervus elaphus), Sika deer (Cervus Nippon), moose (Alces alces), and any associated subspecies and hybrids. CWD is known to be a communicable disease transmitted directly to susceptible species (through animal to animal contact) and indirectly (through environmental contamination).
Elk, red deer, sika deer, moose and their associated subspecies and hybrids (hereinafter referred to as non-native CWD susceptible species) are subject to regulation by the Commission as exotic livestock as provided by various provisions in Chapter 161.
The Executive Director finds that the recent detection of CWD infection in a free-ranging white- tailed deer (disease presence) in Val Verde County creates a high probability for susceptible species in portions of the county having, developing or being exposed to CWD.
The Executive Director further finds that the risk of disease exposure from the unnatural movement of non-native C WD susceptible species and carcass parts from these species located in portions of Val Verde County could lead to disease exposure across the state.
The Executive Director hereby DECLARES that portion of the state lying within the boundaries of a line beginning in Val Verde County at the International Bridge and proceeding northeast along Spur 239 to U.S. 90; thence north along U.S. 90 to the intersection of U.S. 277/377, thence north along U.S. 277/377 to the U.S. 277/377 bridge at Lake Amistad (29.4961830, -100.9133550), thence west along the southern shoreline of Lake Amistad to International boundary at Lake Amistad dam, thence south along the Rio Grande River to the International Bridge on Spur 239 to be a CWD High Risk Area Containment Zone (hereinafter referred to as Val Verde County Containment Zone or CZ).
****** Result for Image/Page 2 ******
The Executive Director hereby QUARANTINES the above referenced Val Verde County Containment Zone, and:
1. Prohibits a person from moving live non-native CWD susceptible species from the CZ.
2. Prohibits a person from releasing a non-native CWD susceptible species within the CZ
unless the animal is released within a high fence premises and identified in accordance with 4 TAC
3. Requires a person that hunter harvests a non-native CWD susceptible species that is 16 months of age or older within the CZ to have the animal CWD tested by a state or federal animal health official, an accredited veterinarian, or a Certified CWD Postmortem Sample Collector, or moved directly to a Texas Parks and Wildlife Check Station in Val Verde County for CWD testing within 48 hours of harvest. The test results shall be provided to the Commission within 30 days of receiving the test results.
4. Prohibits a person from moving a non-native CWD susceptible species carcass, or carcass parts, from the CZ unless:
a. CWD tested by a state or federal animal health official, an accredited veterinarian, or a Certified CWD Postmortem Sample Collector, or
b. Moved directly to a Texas Parks and Wildlife Check Station in Val Verde County for CWD testing within 48 hours of harvest, and
c. Meets the requirements of4 TAC 540.6(e) related to carcass movement restrictions. This Order is issued pursuant to "161.041, 161.061 and 161.0615 of the Texas Agriculture Code and 4 TAC 540.7 and is effective immediately, and authorizes publication of a Notice of the Chronic Wasting Disease High Risk Area Containment Zone for Portions of Val Verde County in the Del Rio News Herald.
This order shall remain in effect pending further epidemiological assessment by the Texas Animal Health Commission.
Signed this the 90th day of December, 2019.
Andy Schwartz, D.V.M.
Executive Director
Texas Animal Health Commission
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2019
TEXAS Val Verde County White-tailed Deer Tests Positive for Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion State Positive NOW at 147 Confirmed
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2019
TSE surveillance statistics exotic species and domestic cats Update December 2019
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019
Texas TAHC, Administrative Code, Title 4, Part 2, Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease Amendments Open For Comment beginning December 20, 2019 thru January 20, 2020 Terry Singeltary Comments Submission
MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019
Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion aka mad cow type disease in cervid Zoonosis Update
***> ''In particular the US data do not clearly exclude the possibility of human (sporadic or familial) TSE development due to consumption of venison. The Working Group thus recognizes a potential risk to consumers if a TSE would be present in European cervids.'' Scientific opinion on chronic wasting disease (II) <***
What if?
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.