CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
ATTENTION
HUNTERS!
Chronic Wasting Disease
(CWD) has NOT
been found in
Kentucky
. However, the Kentucky Department
of Fish and Wildlife Resources encourages all hunters to learn the facts about
this disease and take all necessary precautions when hunting.
Frequently
Asked Questions:
What
is Chronic Wasting Disease?
What
are the symptoms?
Where
has it occurred?
How
is it transmitted?
Can
it be passed to humans or livestock?
How
is it diagnosed?
What
is
Kentucky
doing about CWD?
Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance by
County
Will
the KDFWR pay for my deer to be tested?
Is
it safe to hunt deer in
Kentucky
?
Can
I bring meat and antlers from another state into
Kentucky
?
What
should I do if I see a deer or elk that appears to be sick?
Where
can I find out more?
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Chronic Wasting
Disease (CWD) is a fatal, neurological disease, characterized by spongy
degeneration of the brain. It affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and
has recently been confirmed in a moose. CWD belongs to a group of diseases
called Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE), which includes Scrapie
in sheep and goats, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (commonly known as "mad
cow” disease) in cattle, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in humans. It is
suspected that the agent responsible for causing TSEs is an abnormal protein
called a prion. There is currently no treatment or vaccine available.
Animals
can be infected with CWD for months or years before outward signs are evident.
However, in the terminal stages of infection, deer and elk will show signs of
progressive weight loss, excessive salivation and urination, increased water
intake, and depression. Other noticeable changes include decreased interactions
with other animals, listlessness, lowering of the head, blank facial expression,
and repetitive walking in set patterns. In elk, hyper-excitability and
nervousness may be observed. NOTE: These signs are also symptomatic of other
more commonly seen diseases, such as meningeal worm infections (“brain worm”) in
elk and epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in white-tailed deer.
CWD was
first recognized as a clinical disease in 1967 in Colorado. As of February
2010, CWD has been found in 18 states and 2 Canadian Provinces:
Colorado,
Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska,
New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia,
West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. CWD has
NOT been detected in Kentucky.
Although the
exact method of transmission is unknown, evidence suggests that CWD is
transmitted through direct animal-to-animal contact and indirectly through
environmental contamination, caused by feces, urine, saliva, and infected
carcasses. There is evidence that CWD prions can survive in the environment
even after infected animals have been removed.
There is no
evidence to suggest that CWD can infect humans, domestic livestock, or any other
animals besides deer and elk. However, it is suggested by public health
officials that exposure be avoided while potential health risks continue to be
evaluated.
There is
currently no practical live-animal test. CWD is diagnosed by examination of
brain and lymphoid tissue after the animal has died.
There are
laws in place restricting the importation of both live and
harvested
cervids (including, but not limited to deer, elk, reindeer, and moose).
Importation into Kentucky of live cervids is prohibited by statute (KRS
150.725, 150.730, 150.735, and 150.740) and is a Class D felony. Whole
carcasses of deer or elk harvested in CWD-positive states may not come into (or
pass through) Kentucky. The brain and spinal column must be removed before the
harvested animal may cross the border. Also, we have an intensive statewide
surveillance program, which includes two types of surveillance approaches: a)
active surveillance of hunter-harvested deer and elk and b) targeted
surveillance of any deer or elk displaying symptoms of the disease. We are
increasingly testing more road-kills, as well. Since 2002, KDFWR has tested
over 18,000 deer and elk for CWD; all results have been negative. Additionally,
all captive cervid facilities must be enrolled in the CWD-monitoring program
through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
Our sampling methods ensure
that an adequate number of animals are tested from all over the state each year,
eliminating the need for individual hunters to have their deer tested. At this
point, testing by individual hunters is premature and unnecessary. Only a
limited number of laboratories in the country can test for CWD, and they are
increasingly busy as more states expand their CWD surveillance. However, you
may donate your deer or elk head to our surveillance efforts by contacting your
local private lands biologist. For more information, please call 800-858-1549.
Absolutely. Hunting deer in Kentucky remains a safe activity. However, certain
precautions should always be taken when handling any animal carcass, such as
wearing latex gloves and not using household utensils to field dress animals. If
you see an animal that appears sick or is acting strange, note the animal’s
location and contact KDFWR immediately.
Yes you can, however if you are hunting in a
state or providence where CWD has been found (which includes four of our
bordering states: Illinois Missouri, Virginia, and West Virginia),
you cannot bring back into Kentucky any part of the brain or spinal column.
This includes transporting carcasses through Kentucky. (Example: If you
live in Tennessee and hunt in Illinois, you cannot transport the entire carcass
through Kentucky to get home, i.e., the brain the spinal column from a deer in
Illinois cannot enter the state.) See below:
Allowed and Prohibited Cervid Parts from
a
CWD-infected State or Province
ALLOWED
|
PROHIBITED
|
|
· Quarters
or other portions of meat with no part of spinal column or head attached
·
Boned out meat
·
Antlers
·
Antlers attached to a clean skull plate
·
Clean skull
·
Clean upper canine teeth
·
Hides with no head attached
·
Finished taxidermy mounts
|
·
Brain
·
Spinal Column
|
Additionally, we encourage hunters to follow a few common sense guidelines
wherever they hunt:
1. Know
the CWD status of the state in which you are hunting. If the state you will be
hunting in has CWD, contact the fish and wildlife agency for that state to find
out if they have any restrictions on the export of harvested animal meat or
parts.
2. Do
not harvest any animal that appears sick or is acting strange. Note the animal’s
location and contact the local fish and wildlife department.
3. Do
not use household utensils to field dress or process your deer.
4. Prions
are concentrated in the brain, spinal cord, lymph glands, tonsils, eyes and
spleen. Wear latex or rubber gloves. Bone all meat. Don't saw through bone.
Removal of fatty tissue will remove all lymph glands.
5. The
causative agent is very resistant to disinfection. The best recommendation at
this time is to disinfect butchering equipment with strong chlorine bleach.
6. If
you use a saw to remove antlers or skull plate, it should be cleaned and
disinfected afterwards. This saw should not be used on any other part of the
carcass. If you keep the entire skull for a European mount, you should insure
all meat is removed, wearing rubber or latex gloves in the process. Soak all
bones in strong chlorine bleach.
If you see a
deer or elk that appears to be sick or displaying abnormal behavior, do not
attempt to contact, disturb, kill, or remove the animal. Contact the Kentucky
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources immediately. Be sure to give an
accurate description of the animal’s location, symptoms, and behavior.
Copies of KDFWR’s CWD response
plan may be obtained by sending a written request to:
Dr. Tina Brunjes, KDFWR, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601.
Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance
U.S. Geological Survey – National Wildlife Health Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Center
