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Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
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Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
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What is CWD?
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer and elk. It causes a characteristic spongy degeneration of the brains of infected animals resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and death.
Can CWD be spread to humans?
Although CWD is a contagious fatal disease among deer and elk, research suggests that humans, cattle and other domestic livestock are resistant to natural transmission. While the possibility of human infection remains a concern, it is important to note there have been no verified cases of humans contracting CWD.
What is being done to monitor CWD in Ohio?
The Ohio Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Industry's Disease Diagnostics Laboratory is working with the Ohio Departments of Natural Resources and Health and the USDA to test and monitor Ohio’s deer herd for evidence of CWD.
Are there any special precautions hunters should take?
Yes. Although there is no evidence that CWD affects humans, hunters are advised to take some simple precautions while handling and processing deer. These precautions include the following (additional information can be found in the brochures listed below):
- Wear rubber gloves when field dressing carcasses, minimize handling brain or spinal cord tissues, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards.
- Bone out the meat from the deer and remove all fat and connective tissue. Avoid consuming brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen and lymph nodes.
- Do not handle or consume wild animals that appear sick or act abnormally.
Additional CWD Information
General Information and Current Ohio CWD Monitoring Information
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/
Ohio Department of Agriculture
http://www.state.oh.us/agr/infectious%20diseases/cwdindex.html
CWD Information for nearby states
Michigan
http://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,1607,7-186-25806---,00.html
Wisconsin
http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/ah/agriculture/animals/disease/chronic/
Illinois
http://dnr.state.il.us/pubaffairs/2002/CWD.htm
Indiana
http://www.in.gov/dnr/deerhealth/cautions.htm
CWD Brochures
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture
http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/ah/agriculture/ animals/disease/chronic/pdf/venison_safety_2side.pdf
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/2003CWDBROCHURE_72186_7.pdf
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