British Columbia Confirms 3rd Case CWD TSE Prion WTD Kootenay Region
British Columbia Confirms 3rd Case CWD TSE Prion WTD Kootenay Region
Thursday, November 21, 2024 12:45 PMNew case of chronic wasting disease confirmed in B.C.
The Province has confirmed an additional case of chronic wasting disease in British Columbia, found in a white-tailed deer in the Kootenay region.
Chronic wasting disease is an infectious and fatal disease affecting species in the cervid family, including deer, elk, moose and caribou. It causes serious harm to the animals’ health.
To date, three cases of the disease have been identified in deer populations in the Kootenay region. The first two cases in B.C. were confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in February 2024. One was a male mule deer harvested by a hunter, and the other was a female white-tailed deer killed in a road accident. Both were collected in Cranbrook as part of B.C.’s ongoing chronic wasting disease surveillance efforts.
The latest case was confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. The sample was collected from a white-tailed deer harvested in October 2024. This case is within two kilometres of the other case found in a white-tailed deer near Cranbrook.
There is no direct evidence that the disease can be transmitted to humans and there have been no reports of cases of disease in humans. However, to prevent potential risk of illness, Health Canada recommends that people do not eat meat of an infected animal. Cooking temperatures cannot destroy the abnormal protein that causes chronic wasting disease if an animal is infected.
The Province is working in close partnership with First Nations, stakeholders, experts and other partners on tracking and mitigating the disease.
All cases to date have been found within a chronic wasting disease management zone that includes 14 wildlife management units in the Kootenay region. Measures are in place within this zone to continue to collect data to help mitigate the risk of disease spread.
Ongoing vigilance, preventative measures and enhanced surveillance are critical to managing chronic wasting disease and protecting cervid populations and the communities that rely on them. People are encouraged to keep submitting their deer samples. Information gathered during the ongoing response is helping inform longer-term chronic wasting disease management, in collaboration with First Nations and other partners.
Most infected animals will not show any symptoms of the disease. However, if anyone sees any deer, elk, moose or caribou exhibiting symptoms such as weight loss, drooling, poor co-ordination, stumbling, or generally sick with no obvious reason, report it to the 24/7 Report All Poachers and Polluters Line at 1 877 952-7277 or the B.C. Wildlife Health Program.
Learn More:
For more information, visit the B.C. chronic wasting disease website:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/wildlife-conservation/wildlife-health/chronic-wasting-disease
For more information on chronic wasting disease regulation and restrictions, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/wildlife-conservation/wildlife-health/chronic-wasting-disease/cwd-bc#hunting-regulations-restrictions
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024WLRS0041-001596
For more information on chronic wasting disease regulation and restrictions, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/wildlife-conservation/wildlife-health/chronic-wasting-disease/cwd-bc#hunting-regulations-restrictions
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024WLRS0041-001596
February 1, 2024
Chronic Wasting Disease detected in B.C. deer for the first time
The B.C. Wildlife Branch reports that cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) have been confirmed in two deer in the Kootenay region, south of Cranbrook.
These are the first known cases of CWD in British Columbia.
“We have been watching CWD spread province to province, state to state for at least 20 years, so this is terrible news for British Columbians,” said Jesse Zeman, Executive Director of the B.C. Wildlife Federation. “CWD is devastating to cervid populations. Continued vigilance and testing are key to organizing preventative measures.”
Chronic Wasting Disease affects cervids, including deer, moose, elk, and caribou. Officials have been watching closely in the high-risk wildlife management areas of southeastern British Columbia adjacent to existing outbreaks in Alberta, Montana and Idaho.
The disease is 100 per cent fatal, with no known treatment. It is not known to affect humans or livestock.
CWD can leap into other regions unexpectedly, through the transport of infected carcasses, contaminated hay, or even urine-based scents.
CWD is a disease of the central nervous system, caused by infectious agents called prions. As the prions accumulate, they cause cell death in the brain and neurological disease, which is 100-per-cent fatal. Prions also accumulate in other tissues and may be shed by the infected animal into water or on plants and bedding through saliva, urine and feces.
The first positive sample in B.C. was taken from a male mule deer, from an animal that appeared to be in good condition. However, a sample sent to the B.C. CWD Program by the hunter came back positive for this devastating illness.
The second sample was from a road killed animal, a female white-tailed deer and was submitted to the B.C. CWD Program for testing. The diagnosis was confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reference laboratory on January 31, 2024.
Hunters are encouraged to provide samples for CWD testing after harvesting a deer anywhere in B.C., hunters can submit the head of the animal for testing.
In accordance with the Surveillance and Response Plan for CWD in B.C., the Provincial Wildlife Veterinarian is leading response management, according to the provincial government. Support and input will be requested from the CWD Advisory Committee and Regional Working Groups in the coming days, it said.
“We have failed our wildlife populations once again by underfunding the resources needed to manage them for the past 50 years,” said Steve Hamilton, BCWF Advocacy coordinator. “Politicians should take this as a reminder that their actions and policies matter and we will be calling for much, much better for our wildlife in the upcoming elections.”
For more information and how to report CWD, read our webpage. Chronic Wasting Disease | B.C. Wildlife Federation (bcwf.bc.ca)
To learn more about CWD prevention, watch the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s informative webinar on YouTube.
https://bcwf.bc.ca/chronic-wasting-disease-detected-in-b-c-deer-for-the-first-time/
Chronic Wasting Disease detected in B.C. deer for the first time
The B.C. Wildlife Branch reports that cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) have been confirmed in two deer in the Kootenay region, south of Cranbrook.
These are the first known cases of CWD in British Columbia.
“We have been watching CWD spread province to province, state to state for at least 20 years, so this is terrible news for British Columbians,” said Jesse Zeman, Executive Director of the B.C. Wildlife Federation. “CWD is devastating to cervid populations. Continued vigilance and testing are key to organizing preventative measures.”
Chronic Wasting Disease affects cervids, including deer, moose, elk, and caribou. Officials have been watching closely in the high-risk wildlife management areas of southeastern British Columbia adjacent to existing outbreaks in Alberta, Montana and Idaho.
The disease is 100 per cent fatal, with no known treatment. It is not known to affect humans or livestock.
CWD can leap into other regions unexpectedly, through the transport of infected carcasses, contaminated hay, or even urine-based scents.
CWD is a disease of the central nervous system, caused by infectious agents called prions. As the prions accumulate, they cause cell death in the brain and neurological disease, which is 100-per-cent fatal. Prions also accumulate in other tissues and may be shed by the infected animal into water or on plants and bedding through saliva, urine and feces.
The first positive sample in B.C. was taken from a male mule deer, from an animal that appeared to be in good condition. However, a sample sent to the B.C. CWD Program by the hunter came back positive for this devastating illness.
The second sample was from a road killed animal, a female white-tailed deer and was submitted to the B.C. CWD Program for testing. The diagnosis was confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reference laboratory on January 31, 2024.
Hunters are encouraged to provide samples for CWD testing after harvesting a deer anywhere in B.C., hunters can submit the head of the animal for testing.
In accordance with the Surveillance and Response Plan for CWD in B.C., the Provincial Wildlife Veterinarian is leading response management, according to the provincial government. Support and input will be requested from the CWD Advisory Committee and Regional Working Groups in the coming days, it said.
“We have failed our wildlife populations once again by underfunding the resources needed to manage them for the past 50 years,” said Steve Hamilton, BCWF Advocacy coordinator. “Politicians should take this as a reminder that their actions and policies matter and we will be calling for much, much better for our wildlife in the upcoming elections.”
For more information and how to report CWD, read our webpage. Chronic Wasting Disease | B.C. Wildlife Federation (bcwf.bc.ca)
To learn more about CWD prevention, watch the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s informative webinar on YouTube.
https://bcwf.bc.ca/chronic-wasting-disease-detected-in-b-c-deer-for-the-first-time/
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024
Zoonotic Potential of Chronic Wasting Disease After Adaptation in Intermediate Species
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2024/11/zoonotic-potential-of-chronic-wasting.html
Zoonotic Potential of Chronic Wasting Disease After Adaptation in Intermediate Species
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2024/11/zoonotic-potential-of-chronic-wasting.html
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
posted by Terry S. Singeltary Sr. at
9:57 AM
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