HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Department of Agriculture have confirmed the first cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Luzerne County, marking the spread of this fatal neurological disease to a new area of the state. One of the infected deer was harvested by a hunter, while the other was located at a captive breeding facility. Both were adult males, with the detections occurring 40 miles away from the nearest known wild CWD case.
The captive deer’s infection was first identified on December 16 through testing at the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic System Laboratory and later confirmed by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory. The breeding facility in Luzerne County has been placed under a five-year quarantine by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The order requires all additional deer deaths on the premises to be tested for CWD and prohibits the transfer of deer on or off the property. Any future positive tests will extend the quarantine requirements by another five years.
CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) caused by misfolded proteins called prions. It affects deer and elk, leading to fatal neurological issues. The disease spreads through direct contact with infected individuals or through contaminated environments. Prions are shed in saliva, urine, feces, and carcasses, where they can persist in the environment for decades. Feeding deer is discouraged and illegal in areas designated as Disease Management Areas (DMAs) to reduce the risk of transmission.
While there is no evidence of CWD infecting humans under natural conditions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend against consuming meat from infected animals due to uncertainties surrounding the disease.
To address the spread of CWD, Pennsylvania deer farms adhere to programs aimed at monitoring herds and containing the disease. The Department of Agriculture administers the Herd Certified and Herd Monitored programs, which require stringent record-keeping, routine testing, and identification measures to prevent disease transmission within and across state borders.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced that the detections will prompt changes to DMAs, expected to be finalized following the Board of Commissioners meeting in April. DMAs impose measures such as restrictions on carcass imports and feeding to minimize risks of disease transmission.
An informational meeting to answer questions from the public will be held on Thursday, February 27, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Penn State Hazleton in Room 115 of the Graham Building. Residents with concerns about CWD can contact the CWD Hotline at 1-833-INFOCWD or email INFOCWD@pa.gov for additional information.
These findings underscore the ongoing challenge of managing CWD in Pennsylvania. Officials are urging residents to stay informed, comply with DMA regulations, and avoid feeding wildlife to slow the disease’s spread and protect deer populations for future generations.
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