Update on Chronic Wasting Disease in PA

In an earlier post I provided an update on captive deer that tested positive at a deer farm in Adams County, Pennsylvania (see Friday, October 26th post).  In that post I mentioned that a captive deer from the farm escaped while they were in the process of euthanizing the animals that may have been exposed to the disease.  I have some good news to share, apparently that deer has been killed by a hunter in the area.  The doe was easily identified by it's pink ear tag and the number 23.  This is very good news for deer and deer hunting in Pennsylvania as this disease could devastate wild deer populations.

Below is the news release from the PA Department of Agriculture, November 26th.

Agriculture Department to Test ‘Pink 23’ Adams County Escaped Deer
A doe that escaped from a quarantined Adams County deer farm in October was shot by a hunter today and is now being tested for Chronic Wasting Disease, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

The deer, known as "Pink 23" because of its pink farm tag, was shot and killed this morning on a farm at 1305 New Chester Road, New Oxford. The doe escaped as officials removed the herd for testing from a farm at 1491 New Chester Road, New Oxford. Both farms have been quarantined since October when the first case of the disease was discovered in Pennsylvania.

"The department has been working to prevent further spread of the disease," said Agriculture Secretary George Greig. "The capture and testing of this escaped deer will allow the department to close this chapter of the investigation." State veterinarians identified the doe by its pink farm tag. Testing for Chronic Wasting Disease will be done at the Pennsylvania State Veterinary Laboratory in Harrisburg and will take up to two weeks.

To date, two deer have tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. As a result, the agriculture department quarantined 27 farms in 14 counties associated with the herd where the deer that tested positive for the disease were found. Deer cannot be moved on or off those quarantined premises.

Chronic Wasting Disease attacks the brains of infected antlered animals such as deer, elk and moose, producing small lesions that eventually result in death. Animals can get the disease through direct contact with saliva, feces and urine from an infected animal.

For the rest of the story click here.