MORE RED FLAGS ON CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE

(09/30/2005)

Chronic Wasting Disease has crept into the Mountain State's deer population. The WV Department of Natural Resources has confirmed testing that three deer killed during a controlled hunt in Hampshire County had Chronic Wasting Disease. The agency started the hunt for infected deer September 14th after earlier test results showed a road-killed deer in the county tested positive. The other three were found within two-and-a-half miles of the first deer. DNR officials collected samples from 121 deer but only three tested positive. Officials will intensify their deer collection efforts to try to determine how widespread the disease is in WV. Chronic wasting disease, which attacks brains, had been found only in deer and elk until a bull moose killed by an archer in Colorado this month tested positive. The disease is in the same family as mad cow disease. There is NO evidence it can affect humans. Still, officials advise against eating deer brains.

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