- The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR)
announced today that 3 more free-ranging white-tailed deer in Hampshire
County, WV tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD). This brings
the total number of CWD-positive deer found in Hampshire County to 13.
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- These most recent samples were collected from a total
of 101 adult deer taken in March and April [2007] by DNR personnel as part
of an ongoing and intensive CWD surveillance effort. The 3 CWD positive
deer were collected within the CWD Containment Area located north of US
Route 50 in Hampshire County. The CWD laboratory testing was conducted
by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, which is located
at the University of Georgia's College of Veterinary Medicine in Athens,
GA.
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- When CWD was first confirmed in Hampshire County in September
2005, the DNR immediately implemented its CWD Incident Response Plan. As
part of that plan, the DNR has been engaged in intensive CWD surveillance
efforts designed to determine the distribution and prevalence of the disease.
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- These surveillance efforts have included carefully planned
and coordinated deer collections within Hampshire County by CWD deer collection
teams comprised of wildlife biologists, wildlife managers and conservation
officers within the DNR.
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- "These deer collection teams have continued their
efforts to gather appropriate samples within the surveillance area to accurately
determine the prevalence and distribution of CWD," said DNR director,
Frank Jezioro. "Our initial CWD surveillance data suggests the disease
is located within a relatively small geographic area located near Slanesville,
WV," noted Jezioro. This is encouraging news from a wildlife disease
management perspective. "Based upon these findings, we have implemented
appropriate management actions designed to control the spread of this disease,
prevent further introduction of the disease and possibly eliminate the
disease from the state," Jezioro added.
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- The following disease management strategies have been
implemented by the DNR within the affected area of Hampshire County:
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- continue CWD surveillance efforts designed to determine
the prevalence and distribution of the disease; lower deer population levels
to reduce the risk of spreading the disease from deer to deer by implementing
appropriate antlerless deer hunting regulations designed to increase hunter
opportunity to harvest female deer; establish reasonable, responsible and
appropriate deer carcass transport restrictions designed to lower the risk
of moving the disease to other locations; and establish reasonable, responsible
and appropriate regulations relating to the feeding and baiting of deer
within the affected area to reduce the risk of spreading the disease from
deer to deer.
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- "Landowner cooperation throughout this entire surveillance
effort in Hampshire County continues to be fantastic," Jezioro said.
"As we strive to meet this wildlife disease challenge and implement
appropriate management strategies, the support and involvement of landowners,
hunters and other interested members of the public will continue to be
essential."
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- CWD is a neurological disease found in deer and elk,
and it belongs to a family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies. The disease is thought to be caused by abnormal, proteinaceous
particles called prions that slowly attack the brain of infected deer and
elk, causing the animals to progressively become emaciated, display abnormal
behavior and invariably results in the death of the infected animal. There
is no known treatment for CWD, and it is fatal for the infected deer or
elk. It is important to note that currently there is no evidence to suggest
CWD poses a risk for humans or domestic animals.
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- CWD was first recognized in 1967 in Colorado, and has
been found subsequently in captive herds in 10 states and 2 Canadian provinces
and in free-ranging deer or elk in 11 states and 2 provinces. The source
of infection for wild and captive deer and elk in new geographical areas
is unknown in many instances. While it is not known exactly how CWD is
transmitted, lateral spread from animal to animal through shedding of the
infectious agent from the digestive tract appears to be important, and
indirect transmission through environmental contamination with infective
material is likely.
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- "Our well-trained and professional staff of wildlife
biologists, wildlife managers and conservation officers is working diligently
to fully implement the DNR's CWD Incident Response Plan which is designed
to effectively address this wildlife disease threat," Jezioro said.
"We have some of the best wildlife biologists and veterinarians in
the world, including those stationed at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife
Disease Study in Athens, GA, working collaboratively on this situation."
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- More information on CWD can be found at the DNR's website
and the CWD Alliance website www.cwd-info.org.
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- http://www.wvdnr.gov
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- Sent by Terry S Singeltary Sr flounder9@verizon.net
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- Patricia A. Doyle DVM, PhD
- Bus Admin, Tropical Agricultural Economics
- Univ of West Indies
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- Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message
board at:
- http://www.emergingdisease.org/phpbb/index.php
- Also my new website:
- http://drpdoyle.tripod.com/
- Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
- Go with God and in Good Health
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