SECOND CASE OF CWD FOUND IN ONEIDA COUNTY DEER
State's Trace Back Finds Second Positive CWD in Herd Directly Linked to
Index Herd
*** NOTE TO REPORTERS: There will be an 11:00 am press conference call
with State officials from the Departments of Agriculture & Markets and
Environmental Conservation to answer any questions regarding today’s
announcement. To participate in the call, reporters should call
1-866-814-1918. Please be prepared to provide the operator with the
conference ID# – 682688 and conference name – CWD.
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A second positive case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in New York
State has been confirmed in a white-tailed deer from a captive herd in
Oneida County that is directly linked to the herd where a white-tailed
doe was found positive for CWD earlier this week.
CWD is a transmissible disease that affects the brain and central
nervous system of deer and elk. There is no evidence that CWD is linked
to disease in humans or domestic livestock other than deer and elk.
During the investigation of the State’s first case of CWD this week, the
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets found that one of
the herds associated with the index animal had recently sent a sample to
the State’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to be tested for CWD. The
sample was collected and sent for testing as part of the State’s
mandatory CWD surveillance and testing protocols.
The positive sample was from a two and a half year old white-tailed deer
that died from aspiration pneumonia, which is often but not exclusively
associated with CWD. Due to the direct association with the index herd,
the Department expedited the testing procedure by re-routing the sample
to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, which late
yesterday found the sample to be positive for CWD.
Two days ago, the New York State Departments of Agriculture and Markets,
and Environmental Conservation announced the State’s first case of CWD,
found in a six-year old white-tailed doe from a captive herd in Oneida
County. The deer was sampled as part of the State’s Enhanced CWD
Surveillance and Monitoring Program.
Currently, the index herd and the six other associated herds including
the second positive herd are under quarantine. All animals remaining in
the index herd and the herd with the second confirmed positive herd will
be depopulated and tested for CWD. The investigation to determine the
source of the infection is ongoing.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets will continue
to seek any susceptible deer that came into contact with either herd and
to assess the health and environmental risks associated with such
establishments.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will
continue to conduct intensive monitoring of the wild deer population
surrounding the two positive herds to determine if CWD has spread to
wild deer.
CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of deer and elk.
Scientific and epidemiological research into CWD is ongoing. To date,
research shows that the disease is typified by chronic weight loss, is
always fatal, and is transmissible between susceptible species. CWD has
only been found in members of the deer family in North America, which
include white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose.
More information and the transcript of Thursday’s press conference
regarding the first positive case of CWD in New York State can be found
at the Department of Agriculture and Markets’ website at
www.agmkt.state.ny.us or at the
Department of Environmental Conservation’s website at
www.dec.state.ny.us .
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http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AD/rele...ReleaseID=1423