Michigan Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in a Farmed White-Tailed Deer from Osceola County

Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in a Farmed White-Tailed Deer from Osceola County

March 11, 2025

LANSING, MI — The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reporting the detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a farmed white-tailed deer from Osceola County. The infected seven-year-old deer was discovered as part of the state's CWD surveillance program for farmed deer.

"Limiting the spread and impact of CWD on Michigan's farmed cervid herds hinges on the ability to detect the disease early and respond promptly," said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. "While regular CWD surveillance testing is central to accomplishing this goal, MDARD's continued partnership with herd owners, hunters, and other state and federal partners is also crucial to effectively managing this disease. Ensuring the health of Michigan s farmed cervid population has been and continues to be a team effort."

CWD is a progressive, fatal neurological disease that affects different cervid species, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. CWD can be transmitted directly from one animal to another and indirectly through the environment. While an infected animal may appear healthy for months or years, it will eventually display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss, and physical debilitation in the later stages of the disease.

The presence of CWD in farmed cervid facilities and free-ranging deer is not new to Michigan. Since 2008, including this new case, CWD has been detected at 16 Michigan cervid farms in the following counties: Kent (2), Lake (1), Mecosta (4), Montcalm (4), Newaygo (4), and Osceola (1).

Detections of CWD in free-ranging deer are managed and reported by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. With free-ranging deer, CWD was first discovered in May 2015; and cases have been found across 14 counties in Michigan s Upper and Lower Peninsulas.

As part of MDARD s disease response, investigations are ongoing to rule out any possible exposure to other farmed cervids.

Currently, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, as a precaution, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that CWD-infected animals should not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.

More information about CWD can be found at Michigan.gov/CWD or Michigan.gov/MDARD-Cervid.

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https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/about/media/pressreleases/2025/03/11/chronic-wasting-disease-confirmed-in-a-farmed-white-tailed-deer-from-osceola-county

Friday, February 21, 2025 

CWD, BAITING, AND MINERAL LICKS, WHAT IF? 

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/02/cwd-baiting-and-mineral-licks-what-if.html

Friday, February 21, 2025

Deer don’t die from CWD, it’s the insurance companies, or it's a Government conspiracy?

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/02/deer-dont-die-from-cwd-its-insurance.html

Friday, February 21, 2025

LEGISLATING CWD TSE Prion, Bills to release Genetically Modified Cervid into the wild, what could go wrong?

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/02/legislating-cwd-tse-prion-bills-to.html

Friday, February 21, 2025 

Distribution of Chronic Wasting Disease in North America February 2025 

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/02/distribution-of-chronic-wasting-disease.html

As of December 8, 2023, CWD was confirmed in privately-owned cervid facilities from the following counties: Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, and Newaygo.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/animals/cervids/chronic-wasting-disease-cwd-surveillance

Michigan

Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report

Appendix A: 2023 Reportable Diseases

LIVESTOCK DISEASES:

Disease Species Number of Animals

CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) Cervid 4 Herds

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/annual-reports/2023/2023-Bureau-of-Food-Safety-and-Animal-Health-Annual-Report.pdf

https://www.michigan.gov/search#q=captive%20Cervid%20cwd&f-miweb_site_agency_name=Department%20of%20Agriculture%20%26%20Rural%20Development

To view current and historical Chronic Wasting Disease testing results, make a selection from the options below.

Total of confirmed CWD-positive deer 2015 – present: 253

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-disease/disease-monitoring/cwd/cwd-testing-data

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-disease/disease-monitoring/cwd/cwd-testing-data/2023-cwd-testing-goals-and-results

Page 2

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-disease/disease-monitoring/cwd/cwd-testing-data/2023-cwd-testing-goals-and-results

Michigan DNR reports Ogemaw County’s first CWD-positive deer in Klacking Township, Ogemaw County

Oct. 31, 2023

Contact: Chad Stewart, 517-282-4810

DNR reports Ogemaw County’s first CWD-positive deer; hunters in north-central part of county encouraged to check deer A 4-year-old doe that was reported to be in poor condition – skinny, drooling and showing no fear of people – in Klacking Township, Ogemaw County, recently tested positive for chronic wasting disease. It is the first CWD-positive wild deer from that county, a finding confirmed by the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Madison, which works with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to identify CWD in Michigan’s wild herd.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. To date, the disease also has been detected in the following Michigan counties: Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Midland and Montcalm.

“When we find chronic wasting disease in a brand-new location, where previous intensive surveillance has not yet been done, it becomes extremely important for wildlife disease managers to understand where additional cases might be within that county,” said DNR deer and elk specialist Chad Stewart. “In light of this new detection, we are offering additional opportunities for those interested in getting their deer tested for CWD in Ogemaw County.”

A drop box for CWD testing will be available at the Rifle River Recreation Area headquarters, located at 2550 Rose City Road in Lupton, starting Friday, Nov. 3. The check station typically operated at the DNR field office located at 410 Fairview Road in West Branch will be open Nov. 15-30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The field office will be closed Nov. 23-24 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Self-service test kits, typically available in other locations where CWD has been identified, will not be available in Ogemaw County due to concerns of bovine tuberculosis disease transmission in the county.

Stewart said that CWD is not common among deer in Michigan, and the hunting community can continue to play a key role in assisting the department in disease-testing efforts.

“The DNR sets surveillance goals – basically, a number of deer tested in a particular area – to understand the scale of infection in the local deer herd,” he said. “The closer we come to meeting these goals, the more data we have to identify where and to what extent chronic wasting disease exists in Michigan. Strong hunter participation in testing is critical to that learning, especially in areas where we haven’t yet met surveillance goals.”

Testing background, strategy In addition to testing around areas of known CWD positives, the DNR in 2021 began a rotational approach to testing around the state. A group of counties is selected each year, with the eventual aim of testing enough deer in every Michigan county.

The goal of this approach is early disease detection, as management has the potential to be most effective when the disease is caught early. Most of these areas have not had a CWD detection or have not previously been part of intensive testing efforts, so little is known about disease status or pathways in these locations. In 2021 and 2022, the rotational approach focused testing in areas of both the southwestern and southeastern Lower Peninsula.

This year, testing will focus on the northwestern Lower Peninsula and a few counties in other areas where additional herd information is still needed. The focal counties for 2023 CWD testing include Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Hillsdale, Isabella, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, Osceola and Wexford. These counties will have CWD testing drop boxes, staffed submission sites, and partner processors and taxidermists to assist with collection efforts.

In the rest of the state, testing is available through direct submission by hunters to a cooperating U.S. Department of Agriculture-approved diagnostic laboratory for a fee or through free self-sample shipping kits in counties where CWD has previously been detected.

Since CWD was first detected in 2015, over 103,000 deer have been tested for CWD in Michigan. There have been over 137,000 wild deer tested in total. The Ogemaw County deer is the Department’s 251st positive animal.

To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in people. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that infected animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.

Hunters also are reminded to use caution when field-dressing or processing a deer. This includes practices such as wearing rubber gloves, minimizing contact with the deer’s brain and spinal tissue, and washing your hands with soap and warm water after handling any parts of the carcass.

Proper disposal of a deer carcass is critical to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease. Deer carcasses should go directly to a landfill or be disposed of through your regular trash pickup to be taken to a landfill. Deer harvested from known CWD areas should never be disposed of on the landscape in non-CWD areas.

For more information on chronic wasting disease, visit Michigan.gov/CWD.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDNR/bulletins/378a3d4

MDARD: Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in a Farmed White-Tailed Deer from Newaygo County Michigan

Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development sent this bulletin at 05/02/2023 11:15 AM EDT

For immediate release: May 2, 2023 Media contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724 or Chelsea Lewis, 517-331-1151

MDARD: Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in a Farmed White-Tailed Deer from Newaygo County LANSING, MI –The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in one white-tailed deer from a farmed cervid facility in Newaygo County. The infected four-and-a-half-year-old deer was discovered through routine testing as part of the state’s CWD surveillance program for farmed deer.

“Limiting the spread and impact of CWD on Michigan’s farmed cervid herds hinges on the ability to detect the disease early and respond promptly,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland. “While regular CWD surveillance testing is central to accomplishing this goal, MDARD’s continued partnership with herd owners, hunters, and other state and federal partners is also crucial to effectively managing this disease. Ensuring the health of Michigan’s farmed cervid population is a team effort.”

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects different cervid species, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. CWD can be transmitted directly from one animal to another and indirectly through the environment. While an infected animal may appear healthy for months or years, it will eventually display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss, and physical debilitation in the later stages of the disease.

The presence of CWD in farmed cervid facilities and free-ranging deer is not new to Michigan. Since 2008, including this new case, CWD has been detected at 11 Michigan cervid farms in the following counties: Kent (2), Mecosta (4), Montcalm (3), and Newaygo (2).

With free-ranging deer, CWD was first discovered in May 2015; and cases have been found across 11 counties in Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. To date, no free-ranging white-tailed deer have tested positive for CWD in Newaygo County.

As part of MDARD’s disease response, investigations are ongoing to rule out any possible exposure to other farmed cervids.

Currently, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, as a precaution, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that CWD-infected animals should not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.

More information about CWD can be found at Michigan.gov/CWD or Michigan.gov/MDARD-Cervid.

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Michigan MDARD: Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in a Farmed White-Tailed Deer from Newaygo County

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDARD/bulletins/3583c22

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CASESCWD STATUS OF CAPTIVE HERDS

Updated January 2023

4/19/2022 3 YR Female MI Mecosta WTD Shooter No No 275 Quarantine

11/4/2021 2, 3 Y Male MI Kent Elk Breeder Yes Yes 0 Depopulated

7/15/2021 4 Y Female MI Montcalm WTD Breeder No No 109 Quarantine

4/18/2021 2.5 Y Male MI WTD Shooter No No ukn Quarantine

3/3/2021 4 Y Male MI Montcalm WTD Shooter No NA 14 Quarantine

12/2019 3, 4.5 Y Males MI Newaygo WTD Shooter No No >600 Quarantine

4/2019 2.5 Y Female MI Montcalm WTD Breeder No NA 113 Depopulated

12/2017 1.5 Y Female MI Mecosta WTD Breeder Yes Yes 525 Quarantined

1/2017 2Y Female MI Mecosta WTD & Sika deer Shooter No NA 71 Depopulated

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/cwd/downloads/status-of-captive-herds.pdf

Michigan Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion Totals Since 2015 To Present 242 Confirmed Cases

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/cwd/2022-cwd-testing-goals

Total tested and number of positives

Area Total Tested # Positive

Remainder of State* 954 6

Statewide Total for 2023** 1386 7

*These positive deer came from Gratiot (4), Jackson (1) and Midland (1) counties.

**Certain deer are not included (e.g., insufficient samples, fawns, missing gender/age) with those included, statewide total = 1693

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-disease/disease-monitoring/cwd/cwd-testing-data/2023-cwd-testing-goals-and-results

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2023

Michigan Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion Totals Since 2015 To Present 242 Confirmed Cases

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2023/01/michigan-chronic-wasting-disease-cwd.html

Michigan CWD 2023

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-disease/disease-monitoring/cwd/cwd-testing-data/2023-cwd-testing-goals-and-results

see page two link at the bottom;

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/wildlife/wildlife-disease/disease-monitoring/cwd/cwd-testing-data/2023-cwd-testing-goals-and-results

Michigan 2022 captive CWD Herds Positive 1

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/annual-reports/aid/2022_aid_annual_report.pdf

Michigan MDARD: Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in a Farmed White-Tailed Deer from Mecosta County

For immediate release: May 9, 2022 Media contact: Chelsea Lewis, 517-331-1151 or Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724

MDARD: Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in a Farmed White-Tailed Deer from Mecosta County

LANSING, MI – Today, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in one white-tailed deer from a farmed cervid facility in Mecosta County. The infected three-year-old deer was discovered through routine testing as part of the state’s CWD surveillance program for farmed deer.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects different cervid species, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. The disease can be transmitted directly from one animal to another and indirectly through the environment. While an infected animal may appear healthy for months or years, it will eventually display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss, and physical debilitation in the later stages of the disease.

“MDARD is committed to limiting the spread and impact of this disease. CWD surveillance testing plays an integral part in accomplishing this goal because it helps us to detect and respond to the disease promptly,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland. “In addition, our continued partnership with farmed cervid owners, hunters, and other state and federal partners is also essential to ensure the health of Michigan’s farmed deer population.”

The presence of CWD in farmed cervid facilities and free-ranging deer is not new to Michigan. Since 2008, including this new case, CWD has been detected at 10 Michigan cervid farms in the following counties: Kent (2), Mecosta (4), Montcalm (3), and Newaygo.

With free-ranging deer, CWD was first discovered in May 2015; and cases have been found across nine counties in Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. To date, no free-ranging white-tailed deer have tested positive for CWD in Mecosta County.

As part of MDARD’s disease response, investigations are ongoing to rule out any possible exposure to other farmed cervids.

Currently, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend that CWD-infected animals should not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.

More information about CWD can be found at Michigan.gov/CWD or Michigan.gov/MDARD-Cervid.

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https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/about/media/pressreleases/2022/05/09/cwd-confirmed-in-a-farmed-white-tailed-deer-from-mecosta-county

Michigan’s 2021 deer seasons included targeted CWD surveillance, 25 positive deer

April 14, 2022

Hunters encouraged to share harvest results via online survey

Buck walking through lush green forest

Though Michigan’s 2021 deer hunting seasons ended in late January 2022, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is continuing to accept feedback from hunters about their experiences. Hunter harvest surveys have been sent to a random sample of the state’s deer hunters. In addition, hunters can take a brief online survey. Final harvest survey results will be presented later this summer.

Initial data from Michigan’s 2021 deer hunting seasons – including chronic wasting disease testing results and deer license sales information – was presented at Thursday’s meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Lansing, with highlights shared below.

A shift in CWD testing

The DNR has finalized its 2021 surveillance efforts for chronic wasting disease, ultimately testing just over 7,200 deer. The more targeted testing goals are part of the department’s new region-by-region strategy aimed at detecting new outbreaks rather than revisiting known ones.

“We want to thank hunters for their cooperation in helping us meet our CWD surveillance goals,” said DNR Director Dan Eichinger. “Strategic testing for chronic wasting disease is of primary importance for the department, and we couldn’t meet these goals without the committed assistance of deer hunters.”

Eichinger also praised the work of deer processors, taxidermists and local businesses that help collect samples for testing, and other key partners who provide necessary assistance to the department.

In all, 25 CWD-positive deer were confirmed in 2021. Three cases of CWD were detected in Isabella County, which represents a new county where the disease has been found. (Since Michigan’s first confirmation of a CWD-positive wild deer in 2015, CWD has been detected in white-tailed deer in Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kent and Montcalm counties.)

Doe walking through late summer forest “It was not unexpected to find positive cases in Isabella County, as these detections were fairly close to where we’ve identified cases in Montcalm and northern Gratiot County,” said DNR deer and elk specialist Chad Stewart. “Our main areas of infection remain in parts of Montcalm and northeast Kent counties, as well as southern Jackson County, where we knew CWD existed going into the 2021 hunting season.”

Despite the department’s finding of 25 positive animals last year, Stewart cautioned against comparing the low number of positives with the high number of deer tested and concluding there is not a problem.

“The distribution of our samples greatly affects the number of positives we expect to find. Intensive collection of samples in known CWD locations like Montcalm and Kent counties would certainly lead to a high number of positives being detected,” he said. “Our goal this year was to begin to understand what CWD looks like in areas that are historically under-sampled, and we made a lot of strides on that front.”

Stewart said that chronic wasting disease is going to be a problem for parts of Michigan’s deer herd in the future: “Once it becomes established, it is unlikely that we can reverse course on the disease. Prevention and early detection remain our best options for CWD management.”

Hunter walking across plain while sun shines brightly CWD surveillance moving forward

For Michigan’s 2021 deer seasons, the DNR started a multiyear process of strategic, focused CWD surveillance in regions around the state. Last year’s surveillance occurred mainly in the three tiers of counties near the Ohio border. Over the next few years, the remainder of the state will be systematically sampled to determine if CWD is present in other areas where it hasn’t yet been identified.

Hunter numbers

While there was a temporary rise in hunter numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic, participation is declining in Michigan. The trend is not new, nor is it only being observed here. States across the country are feeling the financial pressure of reduced hunter numbers, because sales of hunting licenses comprise a large portion of the funding for critical conservation work.

“Nationwide, hunting has seen a gradual decline over the last several decades,” said Eichinger. “The trend is likely due to a combination of factors including generations of hunters who are aging out of the sport, and younger generations that are less likely to participate in hunting due to societal changes and more competition for their attention.”

Deer hunter numbers in 2021 were down nearly 4% over the previous year with close to 600,000 hunters purchasing a deer license. Hunter number declines are in line with past years going back to peak participation in the mid 90’s.

“While the trend in hunter participation is discouraging, we know that hunting remains an important part of Michigan’s outdoor heritage,” Eichinger said. “That’s why we encourage experienced hunters to introduce the sport to new hunters wherever they can. Spending time with veteran hunters can reduce the learning curve, increase safety and instill a sense of excitement and appreciation for our state’s natural resources.”

To learn more about deer management, CWD and deer hunting in Michigan, and to access the 2021 deer harvest survey, visitMichigan.gov/Deer.

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/newsroom/releases/2022/04/14/2021-deer-seasons-included-targeted-cwd-surveillance

see archived link;

http://web.archive.org/web/20220416081652/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/newsroom/releases/2022/04/14/2021-deer-seasons-included-targeted-cwd-surveillance

Michigan MDARD Captive CWD Positives depopulated and quarantined

Michigan MDARD CWD

APPENDIX A: 2021 REPORTABLE DISEASES

Livestock Diseases: Small Animal, Equine and Exotic Diseases:

Disease Species Number of Animals

CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) Cervid 19

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/annual-reports/aid/2021_aid_annual_report.pdf?rev=6989dcce43ed4fe3985a05bcffa225ec&hash=0530DE52E159E9B48C80EC8165A25158

Michigan Department Ag. Captive Cervid

APPENDIX A: 2021 REPORTABLE DISEASES

Livestock Disease

Disease Species Number of Animals

CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) Cervid 19

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/annual-reports/aid/2021_aid_annual_report.pdf?rev=6989dcce43ed4fe3985a05bcffa225ec&hash=0530DE52E159E9B48C80EC8165A25158

Michigan MDARD CWD

APPENDIX A: 2020 REPORTABLE DISEASES Livestock Diseases:

Disease Species Number of Animals

CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) Cervid 46

https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/annual-reports/aid/2020_aid_annual_report.pdf?rev=842e5267e3c747819bc4a9a8917a17f5

Michigan Department Ag. Captive Cervid

APPENDIX A: 2020 REPORTABLE DISEASES

Livestock Diseases: Disease Species Number of Animals

CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) Cervid 46

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/annual-reports/aid/2020_aid_annual_report.pdf?rev=842e5267e3c747819bc4a9a8917a17f5&hash=D6F332CE3D860BFE5983161FC8B2415D

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Managing the CWD-positive deer farm identified in March 2019.

• In May 2019, the USDA released updated CWD Herd Certification Program Standards. Michigan is in the process of implementing these new changes.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/annual-reports/aid/2019_aid_annual_report.pdf?rev=50d2a4bf7e5f4cc79764c0f427b1a185&hash=365B1FF5E43FF3C4DFA9792860FD7ECB

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Managed the disease investigation and removal of deer from the a CWD positive deer farm identified in December 2017.

• Due to multiple detections of CWD in free-ranging deer, the parameters for being in a designated special surveillance area were modified to include all herds in an affected county. This change created more comprehensive and efficient responses.

• Initiated a comprehensive program review with the DNR to streamline and improve the Farmed Cervid Program.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/annual-reports/aid/2018_aid_annual_report.pdf?rev=4c34358ecb60444eb59a250f90c619b0&hash=7C1E98F597321BA27DF1444737658C0D

Since May 2015, the Depaitment has confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in free-ranging white-tailed deer from Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Ionia, Ingham, Jackson, Kent, and Montcalm Counties in the Lower Peninsula. In October 2018, the Department confirmed CWD in a free ranging white-tailed deer from Dickinson County in the Upper Peninsula (UP). As of mid-April 2019, after testing approximately 60,545 free-ranging white-tailed deer, 118 were positively confirmed with CWD, with 62 occurring in 2018. Chronic wasting disease was also found in August 2008, at a Kent County privately-owned cervid (POC) facility and in two POC facilities in Mecosta County in 2017. In addition, CWD was found in March 2019 at a POC facility in Montcalm County.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/boards/agcommission/2019-05-15_meeting_materials.pdf?rev=0542e3c19ecb44cb8fd3e0c37593af57&hash=88533F51CEDA3DD672336872304CC421

Michigan Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion Update

CWD in Michigan

Since May 2015 when the first CWD deer was found in Michigan, CWD has been confirmed in a number of townships in the Lower Peninsula. As of October 2018, a CWD positive deer was found in the Upper Peninsula in Dickinson County. CWD was also found in August 2008 at a Kent County deer farm facility and in January 2017 in two captive deer that were from a deer farm facility in Mecosta County.

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516---,00.html

see archived link;

http://web.archive.org/web/20190703051707/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516---,00.html

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90541---,00.html

see archived;

http://web.archive.org/web/20211201002147/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90541---,00.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20211201002147/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90541---,00.html

CWD TESTING RESULTS

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90536-538324--,00.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20200925142120/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90536-538324--,00.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20190416040227/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90541---,00.html

Michigan CWD

http://web.archive.org/web/20200924143416/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90541---,00.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20200924145043/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90536_90552_90560---,00.html

Desperado Deer: The Persistent Problem of Captive Deer Running Wild

by Editor | May 8, 2018 | Conservation, Hunting

Cervid Escapees – Measuring the Problem

For starters, no one knows for sure how many deer escape from high-fence facilities each year. Neither the DNR nor the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development keep accurate, complete records of the number of escapees reported by citizens and/or investigated by DNR conservation officers. Only in 2017 did the DNR first begin using an electronic database to monitor escaped cervids.

Currently, there are 333 licensed captive cervid facilities in the state, most of which are breeding farms (161) or hunting ranches (132), holding over 21,000 whitetail deer, fallow deer, red deer, Sitka deer and elk. While the number of deer escapees voluntarily reported has declined over recent years, the numbers do not include escapees that are never reported.

https://www.michiganoutofdoors.com/desperado-deer-the-persistent-problem-of-captive-deer-running-wild/

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible neurological disease found in deer and elk populations that produces small lesions in brains of infected animals. As a result, CWD causes weight loss and a decline in body control. It is a species-specific disease, and there have been no cases in humans or other animals.

Currently, to determine the presence of CWD, brain and lymph node samples are taken by an accredited veterinarian after an animal dies. These samples are then submitted for testing.

As part of their operations, all privately-owned cervid (POC) facilities in Michigan are required to submit samples. The number of samples that must be submitted depends on what specific program that a producer participates in: the Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program (CWD HCP) or the Surveillance Program.

First, for the CWD HCP, all cervids 12 months of age and older that die for any reason must be tested for CWD.

Second, all facilities that are not a part of the CWD HCP must participate in the Surveillance Program. The Surveillance Program requires that all animals 12 months of age and older that die from illness, injury, or euthanasia due to disease must be tested for CWD. In addition, 25% of cervids slaughtered, hunted, or culled must be tested. This number is calculated on an annual basis. In general, all facilities that have at least one death must test at least this one animal.

Samples for either of these programs can be submitted to a private veterinarian, the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, or an MDARD drop off location.

For more information, contact the MDARD Cervid Program.

General Questions/Concerns: MDARD-Cervid@Michigan.gov

Cervid Program Manager:

Dr. Jennifer Calogero CalogeroJ@Michigan.gov 517-284-5692

Cervid Program Secretary: Melanie Hart HartM1@Michigan.gov 517-284-5679

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/animals/cervids/chronic-wasting-disease-cwd-surveillance

Privately Owned Cervidae

Raising deer and elk in captivity is jointly regulated by the DNR and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The DNR oversees the registration of facilities containing farmed cervids and performs inspections of these operations. MDARD manages the disease programs for the state’s POC facilities. Participation in disease surveillance programs - such as those for chronic wasting disease (CWD) and the bovine tuberculosis (TB) - ensures for a robust industry by increasing the marketability of these animals by decreasing their potential for carrying disease. There are nearly 300 licensed facilities in 76 Michigan counties totaling over 63,000 fenced acres. The division conducts about 95 facility inspections per year to ensure that fencing and recordkeeping meet industry standards.

2021 Wildlife Health Section Accomplishments

Tested over 8,000 deer heads for bovine tuberculosis and

2,500 heads for chronic wasting disease.

While CWD is not known to be zoonotic, bTB can infect humans, domestic animals and wild animals beyond white-tailed deer.

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/79560ac896024e6cb8d925831904a5c7

***> Tested ...and 2,500 heads for chronic wasting disease.

MDNR estimates put the Michigan deer population around 1.75 million for 2019. Dec 25, 2019

Issues Pros and Cons Despite federal, state, and local regulations and other measures intended to prevent the spread or reduce CWD prevalence, the disease continues to be identified in captive cervid facilities certified as “low risk” through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Herd Certification Program and the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) Voluntary Herd Certification Programs (participating in a federally-approved CWD program was a measure of the ATA program). According to the USDA data reports, there were 22 new CWD-positive captive cervid facilities identified in FY2020; 41 percent of those were either enrolled or certified in the federal HCP program. There are a variety of unregulated processes used to collect urine, and they often result in the accumulation of a mixture of secretions, therefore providing concurrent contaminated risks. In addition, urine products are frequently batched/combined from multiple locations and distributed across the country, which increases the likelihood of CWDinfected urine entering the market. There are currently no standard regulations to ensure that urine collected for lures and attractants are disease-free.

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Biological

Nationally, CWD continues to be found in captive cervid facilities.

From the years 2012 to 2021, there have been 66 privately owned cervid facilities nationally where CWD has been identified.

Of those 66 facilities, 39 were enrolled in the HCP, and 32 of those facilities were HCP-certified (meaning there had been at least five years of disease monitoring and no rule violations) indicating low risk for CWD.

This national USDA CWD HCP is not mandatory, and more importantly, recent CWD events show that it does not and cannot guarantee that captive deer herds are CWD free.

To date, CWD has been found in more than 140 captive deer herds in 16 states and two Canadian provinces.

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/Signed_05WCO2021_724156_7.pdf

http://web.archive.org/web/20220218213530/https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/Signed_05WCO2021_724156_7.pdf

Front. Vet. Sci., 18 January 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.824815

Evaluation of Real-Time Quaking-Induced Conversion, ELISA, and Immunohistochemistry for Chronic Wasting Disease Diagnosis

All, except one, CWD positive RLNs analyzed were from ten Counties geographically located in the West Michigan region of the Lower Peninsula. Taken together, we show evidence that the RT-QuIC assay is comparable to ELISA and IHC and could be helpful for routine CWD detection in surveillance programs. RT-QuIC also demonstrated that CWD prions are distributed across lymph nodes in a variety of anatomic locations.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8803730/pdf/fvets-08-824815.pdf

Michigan:

September, 2019: NVSL confirmed CWD in a two year old female white-tailed deer in Montcalm County. The doe was a natural addition to the breeding herd which consists of 50 white-tailed deer. This herd is not enrolled in the Federal HCP, is within a CWDendemic area, and is under quarantine.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/cwd/downloads/usaha-annual-cervid-health-report-2019.pdf

Michigan: One new CWD positive herd

Hunt preserve of >600 WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/cervid/voluntary-cwd-hcp-annual-update-fy2020

Farmed Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Management and Response Activities 2021 Cooperative Agreements

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/cwd/downloads/cwd-funding-oppt-annc-fy2021.pdf

archived link;

http://web.archive.org/web/20211201205141/https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/cwd/downloads/cwd-funding-oppt-annc-fy2021.pdf

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/cervid/cervid-cwd-2021-funding-faqs

archived page;

http://web.archive.org/web/20210727152518/https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/cervid/cervid-cwd-2021-funding-faqs

APHIS also conducts monitoring and surveillance activities to detect diseases that affect cervids, including chronic wasting disease (CWD) and tuberculosis (TB). APHIS’ voluntary national CWD Herd Certification Plan (HCP) works with States, Tribes, and the cervid industry to control CWD in farmed cervids by allowing the interstate movement only from certified herds.

Currently, 28 States participate in the national CWD HCP. In FY 2019 APHIS tested more than 11,000 farmed cervids for CWD.

As a result, APHIS identified 17 new CWD positive farmed cervid herds.

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/20aphis2021notes.pdf

Wild Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Management and Response Activities 2021

Funding Opportunity USDA APHIS Wildlife Services announced awards for two opportunities for the control and prevention of CWD in wild cervids under the titles of “Wild Cervid CWD Management and Response Activities 2021” and “Tribal Nations Wild Cervid CWD Opportunities 2021.” See information below. Wild Cervid CWD FOA Wild Cervid CWD FAQs Wild Cervid CWD Management and Response Activities 2021 Cooperative Agreements Wild Cervid CWD 2021 Project Executive Summaries Tribal Nations Wild Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Opportunities 2021 Funding Opportunity Tribal Nations Wild Cervid CWD FOA Tribal Nations Wild Cervid CWD FAQs Tribal Nations Wild Cervid CWD Opportunities 2021 Cooperative Agreements Wild Cervid Tribal CWD 2021 Project Executive Summaries

VS Farmed Cervid Chronic Wasting Disease Management and Response Activities 2021 Funding Opportunity RISK, UNCERTAINTY AND DECISION-MAKING: ASSESSING CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE OCCURRENCE RISK ACROSS AN EMERGENCE SPECTRUM

Exposure hazards included point locations of captive cervid facilities, deer processors and taxidermists, and out-of-area hunting connectivity.

As of 2018, there were a total of 296 ranch and full-registration facilities in Michigan. In terms of their spatial distribution, there were facilities in 196 out of 1240 townships, and 71 out of 83 counties (Fig. 2.1). There were 468 registered deer processors and taxidermists in 2017, the year for which data were available. Processors and taxidermists occurred in 696 out of 1240 townships, and 82 out of 83 counties (Fig. 2.2). Lastly, out-of-area hunting was based on both intrastate and interstate metrics. For intrastate hunting, the percentage of respondents that travelled from one county to another was scaled up to the total number of hunters that reside in a county. CWD positive counties included Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kent and Montcalm counties. The average number of hunters per resident county from 2013 – 2017 who travelled to a CWD positive county ranged from 0 – 3832 per year (Fig. 2.3). A low number (i.e., low connectivity) of interstate hunters ranged from 0 – 1059 for the 5-year average, whereas a high number ranged from 1060 – 3832(Fig. 2.3). Interstate hunting was quantified as the number of Michigan resident hunters who purchased an out-of-state license in Wisconsin between years 2013 – 2017 (i.e., nonresident license). For interstate connectivity, I found that average annual number of Michigan county residents that traveled to Wisconsin between 2013 –2017 was 0 – 170 per year (Fig. 2.4). A low number (i.e., low connectivity) of interstate hunters ranged from 0 – 39 for the 5-year average, whereas a high number ranged from 40 – 170 (Fig. 2.4).

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In 2017, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) detected CWD in a 3- year-old white-tailed doe submitted during an early season youth hunt (MDNR 2017). Additional surveillance in the area during 2017 identified 45 total CWD-positive animals in a concentrated disease focus in the west-central Lower Peninsula of Michigan within Kent and Montcalm counties. Nine previous CWD detections had occurred in the state in 2015 and 2016; however, the 2017 detections were the first evidence that CWD might be widespread and established within Michigan. Based on a single year of observation, predicting the area affected by the cluster of disease with distance benchmarks would likely fail to fully encapsulate the affected area. Furthermore, based on the sparsity of data, fitting complex disease models was not possible. Thus, there was an immediate need for an alternative approach that could more appropriately estimate the extent of CWD and identify locations at high risk using limited available information

https://d.lib.msu.edu/etd/49428/datastream/OBJ/View/

archived

https://d.lib.msu.edu/etd/49428

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/downloads/cwd-funding-ws-executive-summaries.pdf

Prion protein polymorphisms in Michigan white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Caitlin N. Ott-ConnORCID Icon,Julie A. Blanchong &Wes A. Larson

Pages 183-190 | Received 22 Jul 2021, Accepted 01 Oct 2021, Published online: 09 Nov 2021

Download citation https://doi.org/10.1080/19336896.2021.1990628

ABSTRACT

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a well-described transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of the Cervidae family, is associated with the aggregation of an abnormal isoform (PrPCWD) of the naturally occurring host prion protein (PrPC). Variations in the PrP gene (PRNP) have been associated with CWD rate of infection and disease progression. We analysed 568 free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 9 CWD-positive Michigan counties for PRNP polymorphisms. Sampling included 185 CWD-positive, 332 CWD non-detected, and an additional 51 CWD non-detected paired to CWD-positives by sex, age, and harvest location. We found 12 polymorphic sites of which 5 were non-synonymous and resulted in a change in amino acid composition. Thirteen haplotypes were predicted, of which 11 have previously been described. Using logistic regression, consistent with other studies, we found haplotypes C (OR = 0.488, 95% CI = 0.321–0.730, P < 0.001) and F (OR = 0.122, 95% CI = 0.007–0.612, P < 0.05) and diplotype BC (OR = 0.340, 95% CI = 0.154–0.709, P < 0.01) were less likely to be found in deer infected with CWD. As has also been documented in other studies, the presence of a serine at amino acid 96 was less likely to be found in deer infected with CWD (P < 0.001, OR = 0.360 and 95% CI = 0.227–0.556). Identification of PRNP polymorphisms associated with reduced vulnerability to CWD in Michigan deer and their spatial distribution can help managers design surveillance programmes and identify and prioritize areas for CWD management.

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Results

PRNP sequences were determined for 568 free-ranging white-tailed deer from 9 CWD-positive Michigan counties. Of these samples, 185 were CWD-positive, 332 were CWD non-detected, and an additional 51 CWD non-detected were paired to CWD-positives to control for sex, age, and harvest location (Figure 1). Within the analysed 625bp region of the PRNP gene, we detected 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 9 of which had been previously reported [22, 29, 33, 36, 38–41]. Of the 12 SNPs, 5 were non-synonymous, resulting in a change to the amino acid sequence (Table 1). BLAST and literature searches indicated that 589A/G, 642 G/A, and 643 C/A had not previously been reported. Full associated sequences have been deposited in GenBank under accession numbers MZ913400 – MZ913401.

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As CWD detections continue to increase the areas under surveillance, the use of regionally specific data to allocate testing efforts and funding will be pivotal for success. Identification of PRNP polymorphisms associated with reduced vulnerability to CWD and their spatial distribution and prevalence may help managers design surveillance programmes to identify and prioritize areas for CWD management when partnered with movement data and anticipated deposition of prions onto the landscape over time.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19336896.2021.1990628

77. Assessing chronic wasting disease strain differences in free-ranging cervids across the United States

Kaitlyn M. Wagnera, Caitlin Ott-Connb, Kelly Strakab, Bob Dittmarc, Jasmine Battend, Robyn Piercea, Mercedes Hennessya, Elizabeth Gordona, Brett Israela, Jenn Ballarde and Mark D Zabela

aPrion Research Center at Colorado State University; bMichigan Department of Natural Resources; cTexas Parks and Wildlife Department; dMissouri Department of Conservation, 5. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission CONTACT Kaitlyn M. Wagner miedkait@rams.colostate.edu

ABSTRACT

Background/Introduction: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an invariably fatal prion disease affecting captive and free-ranging cervids, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, elk, and reindeer. Since the initial description of the disease in the 1960’s, CWD has spread to 23 states, 3 Canadian Provinces, South Korea, Norway and, most recently, Finland. While some outbreaks of CWD were caused by transport of infected animals from endemic regions, the origin of CWD in other epizootics is unclear and has not been characterized. Previous studies have shown that there are two distinct strains of CWD. However, the continuous spread and the unclear origin of several outbreaks warrant continued surveillance and further characterization of strain diversity.

Materials and Methods: To address these knowledge gaps, we used biochemical tests to assess strain differences between CWD outbreaks in Michigan, Texas, Missouri, and Colorado, USA. Brain or lymph node samples were homogenized and digested in 50 µg/mL proteinase K (PK). These samples were then run on a Western blot to assess glycoform ratio and electrophoretic mobility. Texas samples were digested in 100 µg/mL PK. To assess conformational stability, brain or lymph node homogenates were incubated in increasing concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride from 0 M to 4 M in 0.5 M increments. Samples were then precipitated in methanol overnight, washed and PK digested in 50 µg/mL PK before slot blotting.

Results: Our results have found significant differences in glycoform ratio between CWD from Michigan and Colorado, but no differences were observed in conformational stability assays. Interestingly, when testing our CWD isolates from Texas to analyse electrophoretic mobility and glycoform ratio, we found that these samples did not exhibit the characteristic band shift when treated with PK, but PK resistant material remained. Additionally, results from our conformational stability assay demonstrate a unique profile of these Texas isolates. Testing of samples from Missouri is currently underway.

Conclusions: Thus far, our data indicate that there are strain differences between CWD circulating in Michigan and CWD in Colorado and provide important insight into CWD strain differences between two non-contiguous outbreaks. We have also identified a unique strain of CWD in Texas with biochemical strain properties not seen in any of our other CWD isolates. These results highlight the importance of continued surveillance to better understand this devastating disease. These results have important implications for CWD emergence, evolution and our understanding of prion strain heterogeneity on the landscape.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19336896.2019.1615197

Special Surveillance Area (SSA) Counties for Farmed Deer

Calhoun (CA)

Clinton (CN)

Dickinson (DK)

Eaton (ET)

Gratiot (GT)

Hillsdale (HD)

Ingham (IN)

Ionia (IO)

Jackson (JK)

Kent (KN)

Lenawee (LN)

Livingston (LV)

Mecosta (MT)

Menominee (MO)

Montcalm (MT)

Newaygo (NW)

Saginaw (SG)

Shiawassee (SH)

Washtenaw (WA)

SSAs as of December 18, 2019

SSAs are established when a free-ranging or farmed deer is identified with chronic wasting disease.

Contact the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Cervid Program at MDARD-Cervid@Michigan.gov or 517-284-5679.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/animals/cervids/special_surveillance_areas_for_farmed_deer.pdf?rev=6497528a63b94975a982c9fc08039db3&hash=4AA0BEE0C1C96A0D34EE935AA0F55189

http://web.archive.org/web/20220520151213/https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/animals/cervids/special_surveillance_areas_for_farmed_deer.pdf?rev=6497528a63b94975a982c9fc08039db3&hash=4AA0BEE0C1C96A0D34EE935AA0F55189

Special Surveillance Area (SSA) If a free-ranging or privately-owned cervid (POC) tests positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), then a buffer circle is created around that positive animal. This buffer circle is referred to as a Special Surveillance Area (SSA). POC facilities that fall within a SSA will have increased CWD testing requirements.

More specifically, if a free-ranging cervid is found to be positive for CWD, a 15-mile radius circle is created around the positive animal. And, if a POC is found to be positive for CWD, a 5-mile radius circle is created around the positive animal. Further, for both cases, the SSA extends to the entirety of the county of the infected animal and any county that the 15-mile or 5-mile circle touches.

For a complete list of counties that are included within a particular SSA, please review the map below.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-48096_100264-530074--,00.html

Livestock Diseases:

Disease Species Number of Animals

CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) Cervid 46

Number of herds involved in special surveillance zones around CWD positive free-ranging deer 84 84

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/2020_Animal_Industry_Division_Annual_Report_719508_7.pdf

MDARD CWD Confirmed at Farmed Deer Facilities in Mecosta and Montcalm Counties

... Rural Development (MDARD) has confirmed two cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) at two separate farmed deer facilities, one ... 123 free-ranging deer from Montcalm County. "Since chronic wasting disease can significantly impact all Michigan deer, it is ...

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_28248_50968-565732--,00.html

MDARD CWD Identified in Newaygo County Farmed Deer

... Agriculture and Rural and Development (MDARD) has confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in three white-tailed deer from a ... rule out exposure of any other farmed deer. "Chronic wasting disease is a serious disease affecting both farmed and ...

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_28248_50968-516936--,00.html

MDARD CWD identified in a Montcalm County farmed deer

... Rural Development (MDARD) has confirmed a case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a four-year-old white-tailed ... 123 free-ranging deer in Montcalm County. "As chronic wasting disease affects both farmed and free-ranging deer, MDARD ...

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_28248_50968-554427--,00.html

Michigan CWD Confirmed at Farmed Deer Facilities in Mecosta and Montcalm Counties

CWD Confirmed at Farmed Deer Facilities in Mecosta and Montcalm Counties

For immediate release: August 11, 2021 Media contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724

LANSING, MI - The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has confirmed two cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) at two separate farmed deer facilities, one in Mecosta County and one in Montcalm County. The two infected deer, a two-year-old and a four-year-old, were discovered through routine testing as part of the state's CWD surveillance program for farmed deer.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. The disease can be transmitted directly from one animal to another, as well as indirectly through the environment. While an infected deer may appear healthy for months or years, it will eventually display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss, and physical debilitation in the latter stages of the disease.

The presence of CWD in farmed and free-ranging deer is not new to Michigan. Since 2008, and including these new cases, CWD has been detected at eight Michigan deer farms in the following counties: Kent, Mecosta (3), Montcalm (3), and Newaygo.

With free-ranging deer, CWD was first discovered in May 2015, and cases have been found across nine counties in Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. To date, while no free-ranging white-tailed deer have tested positive for CWD in Mecosta County, the disease has been detected in 123 free-ranging deer from Montcalm County.

"Since chronic wasting disease can significantly impact all Michigan deer, it is vitally important to detect the disease as early as possible," said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, DVM. "Early detection allows MDARD and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to work in collaboration with farmers and hunters to stem the spread and manage this serious disease."

As part of MDARD's disease response, investigations are being conducted to rule out exposure to any other farmed deer.

Currently, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend that infected animals should not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.

More information about CWD can be found at Michigan.gov/CWD or Michigan.gov/MDARD-Cervid.

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https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125--565732--,00.html

CWD identified in a Montcalm County farmed deer

For immediate release: March 12, 2021 Media contact: Jessy Sielski, 517-331-1151

LANSING, MI - The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has confirmed a case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a four-year-old white-tailed deer from a Montcalm County deer farm. The case was found through samples that were submitted for routine testing as part of the state's CWD surveillance program for farmed deer.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. CWD can be transmitted directly from one animal to another, as well as indirectly through the environment. While an infected deer may appear healthy for months or years, it will eventually display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss, and physical debilitation in the latter stages of the disease.

The discovery of CWD in farmed and free-ranging deer is not new to the state of Michigan. Since 2008, and including this new case, CWD has been detected at six Michigan deer farms in the following counties: Kent, Mecosta (2), Montcalm (2), and Newaygo.

With free-ranging deer, CWD was first discovered in May 2015, and cases have been found across nine counties in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. To date, CWD has been detected in 123 free-ranging deer in Montcalm County.

"As chronic wasting disease affects both farmed and free-ranging deer, MDARD works in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the state's deer farmers to detect and manage this serious disease," said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, DVM. "Due to the nature of the disease, it is imperative that farmers, hunters, DNR, and MDARD continue to work in collaboration to protect all of Michigan's deer."

As part of MDARD's disease response, an investigation will be conducted to rule out exposure of any other farmed deer.

Currently, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend infected animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.

More information about CWD can be found at Michigan.gov/CWD or Michigan.gov/MDARD-Cervid.

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https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_28248_50968-554427--,00.html

Expanding Distribution of Chronic Wasting Disease ACTIVE

By National Wildlife Health Center February 5, 2022

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/expanding-distribution-chronic-wasting-disease

Michigan CWD Testing Results Deer Harvested in 2021 Statewide Total 22 Positive To Date For Year in Wild

CWD Testing Results for Deer Harvested in 2021

Test results updated as of December 13, 2021.

Totals reflected in this update only include those with final test results.

Deer with pending results are not included in these totals.

Zone Total Tested Number Positive

UP CWD Core Surveillance Area 193 0

South Isabella + Gratiot 749 3

South Jackson 855 12

Totals 1797 15

Testing numbers above are part of the county totals in the larger table below.

County Name Total Tested Number Positive

Allegan 290 0

Barry 150 0

Berrien 77 0

Branch 104 0

Calhoun 139 0

Cass 64 0

Eaton 82 0

Hillsdale 204 0

N. Jackson 135 0

Kalamazoo 196 0

Lenawee 118 0

Livingston 68 0

Macomb 13 0

Monroe 34 0

Oakland 43 0

St. Joseph 81 0

Van Buren 155 0

Washtenaw 178 0

Wayne 9 0

Total to date 2106 0

These counties are open for hunter service testing November 15-18 ONLY. There are no surveillance goals.

County Name Total Tested Number Positive

Clinton 45 0

Dickinson (non-core) 3 0

Ingham 32 0

Ionia 35 1

Kent 47 1

Montcalm 53 5

Total to date 215 7 Deer tested in remainder of state 113 0 Positive

Statewide Total 3865 22 Positive

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90536-538324--,00.html

archived link;

http://web.archive.org/web/20200925142120/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90536-538324--,00.html

Michigan MDARD Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in Two Farmed Elk from Kent County

For immediate release: November 18, 2021 Media contact: Chelsea Lewis-Parisio, 517-331-1151

MDARD: Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in Two Farmed Elk from Kent County

LANSING, MI – Today, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) confirmed two cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in elk from a farmed cervid facility in Kent County. The two infected elk, a two-and-a-half-year-old and a three-and-a-half-year-old, were discovered through disease tracing efforts that resulted from finding CWD in a different Michigan farmed cervid herd. These are the first cases of CWD in Michigan elk.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects different cervid species, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. The disease can be transmitted directly from one animal to another and indirectly through the environment. While an infected animal may appear healthy for months or years, it will eventually display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss, and physical debilitation in the latter stages of the disease.

“The discovery of chronic wasting disease in elk housed at a facility linked to a positive animal is not surprising,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM. “MDARD’s main priority is to limit the spread of this disease by working together with other state departments, farmers, and ranchers. These findings underscore how important it is to pay attention to CWD and the movement of animals that may allow the disease to spread.”

The presence of CWD in farmed cervid facilities and free-ranging deer is not new to Michigan. Since 2008, including these new cases, CWD has been detected at nine Michigan cervid farms in the following counties: Kent (2), Mecosta (3), Montcalm (3), and Newaygo.

No wild elk have tested positive for CWD in Michigan. The disease was first discovered in free-ranging deer in May 2015; cases have been found across nine counties in Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. To date, 37 free-ranging white-tailed deer have tested positive for CWD in Kent County.

As part of MDARD’s disease response, investigations are ongoing to rule out any possible exposure to other farmed cervids.

Currently, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend that animals that have tested positive for CWD should not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.

More information about CWD can be found at http://Michigan.gov/CWD or http://Michigan.gov/MDARD-Cervid.

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https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDARD/bulletins/2fcd9a1

Michigan CWD TSE Prion TOTAL WILD CERVID 220 POSITIVE TO DATE, CAPTIVE CWD TOTAL???

PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DNR...see;

Mon, Aug 9, 2021 11:46 am

''The interactive hot map you are referencing is updated regularly, at least once a month, but even more regularly during hunting season as that is when we receive most samples and theoretical positives. All 209 animals to date are wild. No captive cervid deer are listed in our testing metrics because they fall into a different category of management as overseen by Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Because they are captive they are treated as domestic animals – same as cows, horses, and pigs. If you were inquiring about CWD+ private cervids you will have to reach out to them as we don’t so much focus on total individuals positive as we do positive herds and locations (which again they would be best to ask).'' ''Our 2021 testing totals account for 11 positives this year, all USDA-APHIS or Disease Permit culled animals in Gratiot (3) and Jackson (8) counties. I am digging into when the interactive map was last updated now, but at a worst that would but our total positive at 220 over Michigan’s history of testing if it hadn’t been recently updated (which is possible as USDA-APHIS shooting just recently started up again in July after a multi-month break).''

YOU can see CWD here;

https://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,4579,7-186-76711_78204-357110--,00.html

archived link;

http://web.archive.org/web/20171018014630/https://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,4579,7-186-76711_78204-357110--,00.html

Where has chronic wasting disease (CWD) been found in Michigan?

Since the initial finding of CWD on May 20, 2015, free-ranging deer in Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kent and Montcalm counties have been positively confirmed with CWD. Please visit Michigan.gov/CWD for more information on CWD and the latest news and testing updates. See pages 56-57 and 61-62 for important regulations pertaining to CWD.

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/hunting_and_trapping_digest_461177_7.pdf

Assessing drivers of spread and transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease in Michigan deer

Primary Contact: Dr. Dwayne Etter, DNR Wildlife Division, Lansing, Michigan

Email: etterd@michigan.gov

Phone: (517) 284-4720

DNR Financial Support: $120,149 in FY19, $502,737 total.

Study Area: South-central Lower Peninsula

Time Frame: 10/1/2017-9/30/2022

Abstract:

The occurrence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Michigan challenges the foundations of wildlife conservation, both in the short term and perhaps more significantly in the longer term. In the short term, CWD is causing reallocation of precious financial and staff-time resources and will be widely disruptive to existing programs of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). In the longer term, diseases such as CWD pose a threat to the financial cornerstone of fisheries and wildlife programs because sales of deer hunting licenses represent a large proportion of annual revenue for the Division of Wildlife. Recognizing these threats, the Division of Wildlife included wildlife disease in its Guiding Principles and Strategies (Objective 1.3: monitor and preserve the health of Michigan’s wildlife) and prepared a comprehensive Surveillance and Response Plan for Chronic Wasting Disease of Free-ranging and Privately Owned Cervids.

Chronic wasting disease is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that infects North American cervids including white-tailed deer (Williams 2005). The infectious agent of CWD is a misfolded protein, a prion, which accumulates in the brainstem and lymphatic tissue of infected animals and results in neurodegeneration and eventual death. In states where CWD is established it has emerged as a major threat, reducing the health of populations and causing long-term population decline (Edmunds et al. 2016, Gross and Miller 2001, Manjerovic et al. 2014).

The discovery of CWD in Michigan creates an immediate need for population monitoring and surveillance of at-risk deer populations. Since 2015, nine infected individuals have been identified following collection through state surveillance efforts, representing key successes in targeted disease management. However, the continued discovery of infected individuals in 2016 suggests a high likelihood that additional infected individuals remain on the landscape. The occurrence of a small number of infected animals across a relatively small geographic region in mid-Michigan indicates that the disease is still emerging.

What distinguishes the research proposed here from extensive work done in other states is that CWD is still in an emergent phase in Michigan. Michigan discovered the disease early during a time when transmission of the disease may be more dependent on the density of deer on the landscape because most infections are through direct contact of infected animals with susceptible individuals. This situation is similar only to New York and Minnesota. In all other states where CWD has been discovered, the disease was already well established, and transmission included infection mediated by contact of susceptible individuals with severely contaminated environments. Our research in Michigan is intended to explore management options for the control of an emerging occurrence of CWD through better understanding of behavior and population dynamics of deer inhabiting areas of known infection.

The goal of this research is to improve the cost-efficiency of detecting CWD when it is still rare and removing animals from the landscape to control the spread of disease, by reducing contact among deer and potentially eliminating infectious animals. We intend to take a multi-pronged approach to accomplish this goal and the work described here will complement another study that seeks to develop new methods for detecting and removing diseased animals. The effort described here is designed to accumulate a dataset on movement behavior of deer that is of high temporal and spatial resolution to address questions about dispersal rates, directions and distances; evaluate hypotheses about environmental factors that are likely influences on dispersal behavior; parameterize risk maps of first-order contact for Michigan in concert with data and prior research in New York State; and create models of the interaction of landscape contexts (e.g., suburban, rural) and habitat characteristics that can be used to direct hunters and biologists to increase the efficiency of surveillance and removal actions. Our objectives address the strategic plans set forth by the Michigan DNR to “1.3.1: Develop and implement strategies to prevent and control diseases before they occur; 1.3.2: Respond to wildlife disease outbreaks; 1.3.4: Conduct research and monitoring to provide information to make management recommendations regarding wildlife disease; 1.3.5: Raise awareness regarding current and emerging wildlife health issues; and 1.3.6: Work with State and Federal agencies, and stakeholders to address wildlife health issues.”

12 IC4117 (Rev. 02/02/2021)

control of an emerging occurrence of CWD through better understanding of behavior and population dynamics of deer inhabiting areas of known infection.

The goal of this research is to improve the cost-efficiency of detecting CWD when it is still rare and removing animals from the landscape to control the spread of disease, by reducing contact among deer and potentially eliminating infectious animals. We intend to take a multi-pronged approach to accomplish this goal and the work described here will complement another study that seeks to develop new methods for detecting and removing diseased animals. The effort described here is designed to accumulate a dataset on movement behavior of deer that is of high temporal and spatial resolution to address questions about dispersal rates, directions and distances; evaluate hypotheses about environmental factors that are likely influences on dispersal behavior; parameterize risk maps of first-order contact for Michigan in concert with data and prior research in New York State; and create models of the interaction of landscape contexts (e.g., suburban, rural) and habitat characteristics that can be used to direct hunters and biologists to increase the efficiency of surveillance and removal actions.

Our objectives address the strategic plans set forth by the Michigan DNR to “1.3.1: Develop and implement strategies to prevent and control diseases before they occur; 1.3.2: Respond to wildlife disease outbreaks; 1.3.4: Conduct research and monitoring to provide information to make management recommendations regarding wildlife disease; 1.3.5: Raise awareness regarding current and emerging wildlife health issues; and 1.3.6: Work with State and Federal agencies, and stakeholders to address wildlife health issues.”

Management of Chronic Wasting Disease in Michigan

Primary Contact: Dr. Kelly Straka, DNR Wildlife Division, Lansing, Michigan

Email: StrakaK1@michigan.gov

Phone: (517) 336-5030

DNR Financial Support: $50,000 in FY19, $250,000 total.

Study Area: Statewide.

Time Frame: 10/01/2016-09/30/2022

Abstract: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that infects North American cervids including white-tailed deer (Williams 2005). The infectious agent of CWD is a misfolded protein, a prion, that accumulates in the brainstem and lymphatic tissue of infected animals and results in neurodegeneration and eventual death. In states where CWD is established, it has emerged as a major threat, reducing the health of populations and causing long-term population decline (Edmunds et. al. 2016, Gross and Miller 2001, Manjerovic et. al. 2014). 15 IC4117 (Rev. 02/02/2021)

The occurrence of CWD in Michigan challenges the foundations of wildlife conservation, both in the short term and perhaps more significantly in the longer term. In the short term, CWD is causing reallocation of precious financial and staff-time resources and will be widely disruptive to existing programs. In the longer term, diseases such as CWD pose a threat to the financial cornerstone of fisheries and wildlife programs because sales of deer hunting licenses represent such a large proportion of annual revenue. Recognizing these threats, the Wildlife Division included wildlife disease in its Guiding Principles and Strategies (Objective 1.3: Monitor and preserve the health of Michigan’s wildlife) and prepared a comprehensive Surveillance and Response Plan for Chronic Wasting Disease of Free-ranging and Privately Owned Cervids.

The discovery of CWD in Michigan creates an immediate need for tools that better assess the return-oninvestment of funds for surveillance and management of CWD. We propose building on risk assessment and modeling that was previously developed during a CWD outbreak in New York. There, we showed how costs of CWD containment could be reduced dramatically by using risk modeling procedures and mapping areas where management action would have the greatest impact on disease control (Williams et. al. 2014). We plan to expand on those efforts by adapting them to Michigan and drawing on newly emerging tools for population estimation and risk analysis procedures that we have been using on other research (e.g., local-scale monitoring of deer populations using distance sampling and evaluation of wild turkey harvest regulations using statistical risk modeling).

Our objectives address the strategies set forth in the Wildlife Division’s Guiding Principles and Strategies to “1.3.1: Develop and implement strategies to prevent and control diseases before they occur, 1.3.2: Respond to wildlife disease outbreaks, 1.3.4: Conduct research and monitoring to provide information to make management recommendations regarding wildlife disease, 1.3.5: Raise awareness regarding current and emerging wildlife health issues and 1.3.6: Work with State and Federal agencies and stakeholders to address wildlife health issues.” Specifically, we will provide managers with decision tools to: (1) evaluate the risk of spread of disease against the geographic extent of management action and attendant financial and political costs, (2) evaluate management alternatives to control CWD and assess the risk of local cases of CWD transitioning from emergent status to established status (where the disease becomes a self-sustaining reservoir within a population) and (3) monitor management outcomes for deer population abundance and disease prevalence.

Quantifying Upper Peninsula deer movements and abundance: preparing for CWD management

Primary Contact: Dr. Dean Beyer Jr., DNR Wildlife Division, Marquette, Michigan

Email: beyerd@michigan.gov

Phone: (906) 228-6561

DNR Financial Support: $117,759 in FY19, $613,001 total.

Study Area: Upper Peninsula

Time Frame: 10/1/2017-9/30/2021

Abstract:

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) occurs in free-ranging white-tailed deer in Lower Michigan, and in our neighboring state of Wisconsin where the disease is endemic. Although wildlife managers have not documented CWD in the Upper Peninsula, managers found infected deer in two Wisconsin captive cervid facilities near the Michigan border. Officials identified the disease in a facility in Oneida County, Wisconsin, about 40 km from our Iron County border and a second positive deer in Oconto County, Wisconsin, about 50 km from our Menominee County border.

While it is not possible to predict if or when we will find CWD in the Upper Peninsula, preparations seem prudent. A scientifically based understanding of deer movements and estimates of population abundance are critical for developing management recommendations in response to CWD. Deer movements and abundance can influence the probability of disease occurrence, contact rates which can affect transmission rate, and geographic extent of an outbreak (e.g., Oyer et al. 2007, Skult et al. 2008, Webb et al. 2010). Importantly, these data take time to gather and managers need this information at the time of first discovery. Thus, waiting for a disease outbreak before gathering these data would put managers at a disadvantage. Important deer movements to understand include seasonal home ranges, migration (especially important in the Upper Peninsula), dispersal, transient, and exploratory.

Information on these movements would inform decisions on identification of CWD management zones. The current strategy is to establish a 16-km radius circle around the location of an infected cervid and include entire counties whose boundaries intersect this circle as part of the CWD management zone. Further, if results from local population surveys or other credible scientific data suggest that cervids from within the radius are likely to move beyond the management zone boundary, the boundary should be expanded accordingly. In the Upper Peninsula, deer can seasonally migrate 50 km (Van Deelen et al. 1998), with overall movements exceeding 80 km (Doepker et al. 2015). These migratory movements, as well as other movements (e.g., dispersal), are currently unknown and certainly not aligned with or contained within county boundaries. Although some information exists on deer movements in the UP, most of this work relied on tag returns that do not provide the needed level of spatial and temporal resolution to inform management responses to a disease outbreak.

Consequently, If CWD was detected in the UP, large areas would likely be under surveillance and management that would not contain infected deer and large areas with potential for infected deer would not be within the prescribed surveillance zone, rendering the current management zone less effective. The Upper Peninsula Region (UPR), Biological and Social Sciences Section (BSSS), Wildlife Health Section (WHS), and Mississippi State University (MSU) wish to develop a program to address the need for information on deer movements. The core work would entail deploying GPS collars on deer in select wintering complexes and conditional winter range (starting along WI border) and documenting movements over three years. To complete the capture and collaring work, we would work cooperatively with interested sportspersons.

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/IC4117_SummaryofSustainableForestryResearch_652352_7.pdf

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79772_79773_83479---,00.html

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90541---,00.html

archived link;

http://web.archive.org/web/20190723145018/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90541---,00.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20190723144916/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90536_90552_90560---,00.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20190324032939/https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516---,00.html

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2021

Michigan CWD TSE Prion 211 Cases To Date

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2021/09/michigan-cwd-tse-prion-211-cases-to-date.html

Michigan CWD TSE Prion 211 Cases To Date

Deer Tested for Chronic Wasting Disease Since Detection of First Positive Free-ranging Deer (May 2015)

https://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,4579,7-186-76711_78204-357110--,00.htmlTotal Deer Tested and Total Positives Cases CWD Testing Results for Deer Harvested in 2020 CWD Testing Results for Deer Harvested in 2019 CWD Testing Results for Deer Harvested in 2018 Michigan Lower Peninsula townships where free-ranging deer have tested positive for CWD https://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,4579,7-186-76711_78204-357110--,00.html

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible neurological disease found in deer and elk populations that produces small lesions in brains of infected animals. As a result, CWD causes weight loss and a decline in body control. It is a species-specific disease, and there have been no cases in humans or other animals.

Currently, to determine the presence of CWD, brain and lymph node samples are taken by an accredited veterinarian after an animal dies. These samples are then submitted for testing.

As part of their operations, all privately-owned cervid (POC) facilities in Michigan are required to submit samples. The number of samples that must be submitted depends on what specific program that a producer participates in: the Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program (CWD HCP) or the Surveillance Program.

First, for the CWD HCP, all cervids 12 months of age and older that die for any reason must be tested for CWD.

Second, all facilities that are not a part of the CWD HCP must participate in the Surveillance Program. The Surveillance Program requires that all animals 12 months of age and older that die from illness, injury, or euthanasia due to disease must be tested for CWD. In addition, 25% of cervids slaughtered, hunted, or culled must be tested. This number is calculated on an annual basis. In general, all facilities that have at least one death must test at least this one animal.

Samples for either of these programs can be submitted to a private veterinarian, the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, or an MDARD drop off location.

For more information, contact the MDARD Cervid Program.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-48096_100264-530075--,00.html

APPENDIX A: 2020 REPORTABLE DISEASES

Livestock Diseases:

CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) Cervid 46

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/2020_Animal_Industry_Division_Annual_Report_719508_7.pdf

CWD Identified in Newaygo County Farmed Deer

For Immediate Release: January 14, 2020 Media Contact: Jessy Sielski, 517-284-5725

LANSING, MI - The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural and Development (MDARD) has confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in three white-tailed deer from a Newaygo County deer farm. All three deer were four-and-a-half years old. The samples were submitted for routine testing as part of the state's CWD surveillance program for farmed deer.

To date, CWD has not been detected in free-ranging deer in Newaygo County. As part of MDARD's disease response, an investigation will be conducted to rule out exposure of any other farmed deer.

"Chronic wasting disease is a serious disease affecting both farmed and free-ranging deer," said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, DVM. "MDARD and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources work together, in partnership with the state's deer farmers, to ensure the protection of all of Michigan's deer."

Since 2008, CWD has been detected in four additional privately-owned cervid facilities from Kent, Mecosta, and Montcalm Counties. The deer farm in Newaygo County is the fifth Michigan farm in which CWD has been detected.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. CWD can be transmitted directly from one animal to another, as well as indirectly through the environment. Infected animals may display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss and physical debilitation. To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. 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.

More information about CWD can be found at Michigan.gov/CWD.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_28248_50968-516936--,00.html

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/May_15_2019_Commission_Meeting_Materials_655387_7.pdf

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516---,00.html

Total Deer Tested and Total Positives Cases CWD Testing Results for Deer Harvested in 2020 CWD Testing Results for Deer Harvested in 2019 CWD Testing Results for Deer Harvested in 2018 Michigan Lower Peninsula townships where free-ranging deer have tested positive for CWD https://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,4579,7-186-76711_78204-357110--,00.html

Greenville man charged with violating CWD deer requirements

By Elisabeth Waldon | on February 03, 2021

Eric Snyder

EUREKA TOWNSHIP — A Greenville man is facing half a dozen charges related to his alleged improper handling of deer with chronic wasting disease (CWD).

Eric David Snyder, 51, is charged with three counts of animal industry acts (privately owned cervidae) two counts of animal industry acts (felony violation) and one count of animals burial.

According to Montcalm County Prosecutor Andrea Krause, the alleged crimes occurred between March 2019 and February 2020. The Department of Natural Resources investigated, however, Snyder wasn’t charged until December 2020 and he wasn’t arraigned until Jan. 21. Krause said the coronavirus pandemic likely played a role in the delay.

According to Krause, Snyder owned Fieldview Whitetails, a deer farm/ranch in Eureka Township.

“He had a deer test positive for CWD,” Krause said. “(Snyder) dumped the deer outside the farm in violation of the law. He also violated a quarantine of the other deer he had on his farm.”

A deer with CWD in Montcalm County was discovered in October 2017 and as a precaution in January 2018, all privately owned deer facilities were put into mandatory quarantine if they were within 15 miles of a deer that tested positive, according to Krause. In March 2019, a deer at Snyder’s farm was discovered to have CWD, and a follow-up investigation later that month discovered the alleged violations at the farm, according to Krause.

Snyder is being represented by attorney Jeff Crampton. If convicted, Snyder faces to from 90 days to five years prison and/or fines and costs.

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https://thedailynews.cc/articles/greenville-man-charged-with-violating-cwd-deer-requirements/

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2022

Michigan’s 2021 deer seasons included targeted CWD surveillance, 25 positive deer

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2022/04/michigans-2021-deer-seasons-included.html

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2021

Prion protein polymorphisms in Michigan white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2021/11/prion-protein-polymorphisms-in-michigan.html

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

Michigan shifts approach to monitor spread of deadly deer disease deer CWD TSE Prion 220 cases confirmed in WILD to date, captive?

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2021/10/michigan-shifts-approach-to-monitor.html

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021

Michigan CWD TSE Prion TOTAL WILD CERVID 220 POSITIVE TO DATE, CAPTIVE CWD TOTAL

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2021/10/michigan-cwd-tse-prion-total-wild.html

MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2021

Michigan Total CWD Positive/Suspect Positive Deer 209 Cases To Date

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2021/06/michigan-total-cwd-positivesuspect.html

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2020

Michigan, to date, CWD TSE Prion has been detected in 197 cervid

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2020/11/michigan-to-date-cwd-tse-prion-has-been.html

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020

Michigan Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion increases to 191 positive to date

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2020/10/michigan-chronic-wasting-disease-cwd.html

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

Michigan CWD TSE Prion 189 Positive To Date UPDATE September 2020

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2020/09/michigan-cwd-tse-prion-189-positive-to.html

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020

Michigan CWD TSE Prion Total Suspect Positive Deer Moves Up To 188 with total deer tested 80,687 to date

https://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,4579,7-186-76711_78204-357110--,00.html

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2020/03/michigan-cwd-tse-prion-total-suspect.html

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020

Michigan CWD TSE Prion Total Suspect Positive Deer Jumps To 181 to date

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2020/01/michigan-cwd-tse-prion-total-suspect.html

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020

Michigan CWD TSE Prion MDARD 3 positive white-tailed deer from a Newaygo County deer farm depopulation and quarantine efforts update?

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2020/01/michigan-cwd-tse-prion-mdard-3-positive.html

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

Michigan MDARD has confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in 3 white-tailed deer from a Newaygo County deer farm

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2020/01/michigan-mdard-has-confirmed-chronic.html

TUESDAY, JANUARY 07, 2020

Michigan Total CWD TSE Prion Positive Suspect-Positive Deer Jump To 174 confirmed to date

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2020/01/michigan-total-cwd-tse-prion-positive.html

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019

Michigan Total CWD TSE Prion Positive Suspect-Positive Deer Jump To 162 confirmed to date

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2019/12/michigan-total-cwd-tse-prion-positive.html

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019

Michigan Total CWD TSE Prion Positive/Suspect-Positive Deer 140 To Date

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2019/11/michigan-total-cwd-tse-prion.html

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 06, 2019

Michigan Total CWD TSE Prion Positive, Suspect Positive, Deer 136 To Date

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2019/11/michigan-total-cwd-tse-prion-positive.html

2019 CWD Testing Goals and Results as of October 18, 2019

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79608_90516_90536-501527--,00.html

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2019

Michigan DNR reports CWD-positive deer in Hamilton Township, Gratiot County

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2019/10/michigan-dnr-reports-cwd-positive-deer.html

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 05, 2019

Michigan MSU SCIENTISTS ARE TESTING A FASTER WAY TO DETECT CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2019/10/michigan-msu-scientists-are-testing.html

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2019

Michigan TWO MORE CWD TSE PRION POSITIVES Total Now At 124 Positive

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2019/09/michigan-two-more-cwd-tse-prion.html

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

Michigan House Bill 4687 State Legislators Turn To Draft Dodger Ted Nugent To Make Scientific Decisions over DNR on CWD TSE Prion

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2019/09/michigan-house-bill-4687-state.html

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2019

Michigan Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion Two More Cases Total 122 To Date 

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2019/08/michigan-chronic-wasting-disease-cwd.html

THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019

Michigan Osceola County deer farm/ranch owner arraigned on several violations

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2019/05/michigan-osceola-county-deer-farmranch.html

THURSDAY, MAY 09, 2019

Michigan CWD TSE Prion increases to 120 Cases to Date

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2019/05/michigan-cwd-tse-prion-increases-to-120.html

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019

Michigan CWD Identified in a Montcalm County Farmed Deer

https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2019/03/michigan-cwd-identified-in-montcalm.html

March 30, 2018

Contact: Lt. David Shaw, 616-218-3762

Mecosta County man sentenced following DNR investigation

Game ranch owner falsified information related to chronic wasting disease testing

A Mecosta County game ranch owner has been sentenced on charges resulting from an investigation by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Lester Jay Gemmen, 64, of Morley was charged with providing false information regarding the origin of two deer heads that were submitted for disease testing, and for failing to properly maintain fencing at the Super G Ranch. The ranch is a privately owned cervid (POC) facility, a designation that includes game ranches and hunting ranches.

He was sentenced by the 77th District Court to 60 days in jail for each count, ordered to pay $775 in fines and costs and must perform 80 hours of community service.

The investigation began in 2017 after two of the six deer heads submitted by Gemmen tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD).

“I commend the detectives from our Special Investigations Unit and our field conservation officers for their thorough, professional approach to this investigation,” said 1st Lt. David Shaw, supervisor of the Special Investigations Unit of the DNR Law Enforcement Division.

The facility’s remaining deer were depopulated and tested, but no further evidence of CWD was found. The facility remains under quarantine, currently preventing ownership of farmed cervids.

The Privately Owned Cervid Program is jointly managed by the DNR and MDARD. There is mandatory CWD testing in all registered herds in Michigan, under the oversight of MDARD. The DNR oversees POC registration and performs inspections of POC facilities. Proper maintenance of POC facilities is critical to protecting Michigan’s free-ranging and privately owned cervid herds.

CWD is a fatal central nervous system disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose. It attacks the brain of infected animals, creating small lesions in the brain, which result in death. It is transmitted through direct animal-to-animal contact or by contact with saliva, urine, feces, blood, carcass parts of an infected animal or infected soil. To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization recommend that infected animals not be consumed as food by humans or domestic animals.

Since May 2015, CWD-positive deer have been found in Michigan. As of mid-March 2018, 57 free-ranging deer have tested positive for the disease. CWD has not been found in the Upper Peninsula, though it has been discovered in Wisconsin, approximately 40 miles from the western Upper Peninsula border.

The DNR is working with stakeholders to address the status of CWD in Michigan. In the coming weeks, the DNR and the Michigan Natural Resources Commission will host a series of public engagement meetings across the state on CWD. The sessions will provide hunters, business owners and residents with opportunities to share their ideas and observations.

In addition, the DNR, NRC and MDARD are evaluating recommendations from the CWD Working Group, which was created after last year’s CWD Symposium. The symposium brought national and international experts to Michigan to discuss CWD. During the coming months, the DNR, NRC and MDARD will work with stakeholders to develop new CWD regulation recommendations.

Visit www.michigan.gov/cwd for more information about the disease, preventive measures and the public meeting schedule.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDNR/bulletins/1e60b39

Michigan CJD

Reported Cases of All Reportable Conditions

Michigan Disease Surveillance System

Cases Reported In The Last 4 Weeks**

Total Cases Reported In Each Of The Last 5 Years***

Disease Group Reportable Condition 

Michigan Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease

6-2025 7-2025 8-2025 9-2025 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

0 0 1 1 15 18 26 23 4

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/CDINFO/WSR/Current_WSR.pdf?rev=bad5410c9b3e4f679655b130b5f02a34&hash=AF05A4D8E00EE860D5D0ACE5E1A2BAD9

WOW!

 

Michigan cjd history 

https://www.michigan.gov/search#q=Creutzfeldt-Jakob%20disease&f-miweb_site_agency_name=Department%20of%20Health%20%26%20Human%20Services