SPOKANE, Wash — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) confirmed a second case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in an adult male white-tailed deer.
According to the WDFW, the deer was harvested close to where Washington’s first case of CWD was confirmed this summer in the Fairwood area of Spokane County.
“Given the location where this deer was harvested – just north of the initial CWD detection, approximately five miles north and west of Highway 395 – this positive test result is not a complete surprise,” said Donny Martorello, chief of WDFW’s Wildlife Science Division.
The deer’s lymph nodes were tested at the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Washington State University on Oct. 16, with positive results reported the week of Nov. 15.
CWD is a disease that can impact deer, elk or moose and is fatal.
The disease is caused by abnormally shaped proteins that prevent an animal’s nervous system from properly functioning.It spreads through direct contact with infected animals or through a contaminated environment.
It can take months to years for symptoms to start showing in animals. Symptoms often include drooling, stumbling, lack of coordination and lack of fear around humans.
While there is no evidence CWD can be transmitted to humans or other species, the CDC advises against consuming meat from CWD-infected animals.
Harvested deer, elk and moose are required to be tested within three days of the kill if the animal is within game management units 124 (Mt. Spokane), 127 (Mica Peak) or 130 (Cheney.)
Baiting and feeding those animals within the areas is also banned and transportation of dead animals is limited to certain parts of the state.
“The public can track confirmed cases of CWD on the Department’s CWD web page,” said Martorello. “Hunters can also use their WILD ID to look up the lab results from samples they submitted.”
WDFW continues to monitor the situation and urges the public to report any sick or dead wildlife.
Further details on testing, regulations, and CWD can be found on the WDFW’s website.
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