I wanted to pass along and interesting article that sheds light on where we are with
chronic wasting disease.
Chronic Wasting Disease: What You Need To
Know
By Lisa
Ballard
February 5,
2019
The Nature Conservancy, Cool Green Science
A year ago,
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) showed up in several mule deer and white-tailed
deer by Montana’s borders with Wyoming and Canada. Anxiety across the state was
palpable. One of those locations was a mere 10 miles from my house; I admit I
was seriously worried.
CWD is
highly contagious among cervids: deer, elk, moose, reindeer, caribou. There’s
no known cure, and it’s always fatal. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
warns us to avoid exposure to it, as no one knows whether humans can contract
it or not. Unfortunately, once CWD comes to an area, it’s impossible to get rid
of it.
Montana is
one of 26 states to report CWD. The disease was first detected in Colorado in
the 1960s. At first it spread via captive cervids, but then it infected wild
populations as well. The presence of CWD has spawned a lot of interest among
conservationists and hunters, and it’s also generated plenty of misinformation
and conspiracy theories. Here’s a primer on the disease and what it means for
you.
To read the
rest of the article click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment