Three Additional Deer test positive for CWD In NY

[RTF]

April 8, 2005, 1:26 PM EDT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ Three more captive deer in central New York have tested positive for chronic wasting disease, raising the total to five statewide.

State agriculture officials say the three deer belonged to the same Oneida County herd that yielded the first of two confirmed cases last week of the fatal neurological illness. The second case came from another captive herd in Oneida County.

A Cornell University lab tested 20 deer from both herds, with the three testing positive, according to the state Department of Agriculture & Markets.

Chronic wasting disease _ called CWD _ has been detected in wild and captive deer and elk populations in 12 states in the West and Midwest. Though it is deadly to some deer and elk species, there is no evidence that CWD is harmful to humans or other domestic livestock.

State Department of Environmental Conservation officials announced plans to kill 420 wild deer in Oneida County starting next week to see if the disease has spread. Brain tissue will be collected and tested to see if the disease has been contracted by any deer in the wild.

Scientists don't know how the disease is transmitted among animals. Symptoms include weight loss, stumbling, tremors, lack of coordination and listlessness.

One of the white-tailed deer diagnosed with CWD was served to as many as 350 people at a sportsmen's dinner last month. Officials were unaware that the venison came from a diseased deer at the time.

State officials planned to hold public meetings Friday night and Saturday in Oneida County to discuss their efforts.

The agriculture department said the prevalence in one herd "provides some indication that the disease may be a more recent infection" and provide clues to the source and risk.

[RTF]

Re: Three Additional Deer test positive for CWD In

News from The NYS Dept. of Agriculture & Markets & The NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

For more information: Jessica Chittenden, Ag & Mkts - 518-457-3136; Michael Fraser, DEC - 518-402-8000

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE UPDATE

Test Results Reveal Three Additional Positives From Index Herd

Public Meetings Scheduled for Friday & Saturday in Oneida County

ALBANY, NY -- (04/08/2005; 1200)(EIS) -- Test results from the two white-tailed deer herds confirmed positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Oneida County that were sampled earlier this week have revealed three additional deer infected with CWD.

The New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University conducted the CWD tests on the twenty deer, and notified the Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) of the three positive test results, late last night.

The three white-tailed deer that tested positive for CWD all came from the index herd, owned by John Palmer, who at the time had 18 deer on his premises. Although DAM is still investigating the source of the infection, the prevalence of CWD in the Palmer herd provides some indication that the disease may be a more recent infection. The prevalence may also provide clues as to the source of infection and the risk to other captive herds and the surrounding wild deer population.

The detection of CWD in New York was due to the State's aggressive surveillance and monitoring program, which requires all captive deer herds to conduct routine sampling. After confirmation of two positive CWD cases in two separate captive white-tailed deer herds in Oneida County last week, DAM ordered the depopulation and testing of both herds in an effort to control the possible spread of the disease in New York State.

No additional positives were found in the two white-tailed deer tested at the second confirmed herd, owned by Martin Proper.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) plans to conduct intensive monitoring of the wild deer population surrounding both herds to determine if CWD has spread to wild deer. DEC will begin sampling the surrounding wild deer population next week to determine CWD status. Input and assistance from the public and local landowners will be essential in DEC's sampling efforts.

DEC and DAM will hold two public meetings to inform the public of efforts being made in Oneida County in response to CWD. The first meeting will be held tonight, Friday, April 8, 2005, at 7 p.m. at the Oneida County Cornell Cooperative Extension office in Oriskany. The second meeting will be held tomorrow, April 9, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. at the Westmoreland Middle School.

CWD is a transmissible disease that affects the brain and central nervous system of certain deer and elk. There is no evidence that CWD is linked to disease in humans or domestic livestock other than deer and elk.

More information on CWD can be found at the State Department of Agriculture and Markets' website at www.agmkt.state.ny.us, at the State Department of Environmental Conservation's website at www.dec.state.ny.us or the State Department of Health's website at www.health.state.ny.us.

[Squirrelhunter91]

Re: Three Additional Deer test positive for CWD In

@#$@#$@$@#@$#@$@$##@.... this is not good at all!

[NYBUCK]

Re: Three Additional Deer test positive for CWD In

[ QUOTE ]

@#$@#$@$@#@$#@$@$##@.... this is not good at all!

[/ QUOTE ]

You got that right Joe, I don't see any good at all. I just hope that it is confined to the penned deer.