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 September 2008, CWD has been found in 15 states and
2 Canadian Provinces: Colorado, Illinois, Kansas,
Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South
Dakota, Utah, 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 14,000 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.
If you are hunting in a state or providence
where CWD has been found (which includes two of our bordering states: Illinois
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
