Second Deer Tests Positive for CWD in Pennsylvania

By CnAgri Print

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Wednesday confirmed the state's second positive case of Chronic Wasting Disease on a deer farm in Adams County. Other deer on the farm that were tested did not have the disease.

The second deer, a white-tailed buck, tested positive at 1491 New Chester Road, New Oxford. This is the same location of the state's first infected deer in October.

In addition to the New Oxford farm, the agriculture department quarantined 27 farms in 16 counties associated with the positive samples. Deer cannot be moved on or off quarantined properties.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission established a disease management area (DMA) surrounding the Adams County farm where the deer tested positive. As part of that plan, hunters may not move high-risk deer parts out of the area, including parts of the head and spinal column.

"Since the first positive deer was found in Pennsylvania last month, the Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force has put in place aggressive measures to prevent further spread of the disease," Agriculture Secretary George Greig said. "This positive deer was found because of those efforts, and we will continue our work to protect the state's captive and wild deer populations."

The Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force meets weekly and carries out a response plan, including education and outreach through public meetings and minimizing risk factors through continued surveillance, testing and management. Task Force members are from the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture, Health and Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Geological Survey/Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Penn State University.

Hunters who harvest a deer within the DMA during the two-week firearms deer season (Nov. 26-Dec. 8) are required to bring their deer to a mandatory check station so samples can be collected for testing.