MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Michigan officials announced last week that for the first time in the state, a free-ranging deer has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD). The deer was found in Meridian Township in Ingham County.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease, similar to so-called "mad cow" in cattle and scrapie in sheep. It affects whitetail deer, mule deer, elk and moose. It is not believed CWD can spread to humans or pets; however, just to make sure, federal officials recommend people and domestic animals refrain from eating CWD-infected animal products.
According to information provided by the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance, a coalition of hunter and conservation groups, CWD is a transmissible neurological disease that produces small lesions in brains of infected animals and is characterized by loss of body condition, behavioral abnormalities and, eventually, death. CWD (like "mad cow") is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.
Infectious agents of CWD are neither bacteria nor viruses, but are hypothesized to be prions. Prions are infectious proteins without associated nucleic acids.
Although CWD is a contagious fatal disease among cervids, research suggests 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," according to a statement from the alliance.
The animal in question was observed last month wandering around a Meridian Township residence and showing signs of illness. The homeowner called Meridian Township police, which sent an officer to euthanize the animal. A Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife biologist delivered the deer for initial testing to the DNR Wildlife Disease Laboratory at Michigan State University in Lansing.
After initial testing came out positive, samples were forwarded to USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for final confirmation. DNR received positive confirmation a couple weeks ago.
"This is the first case of chronic wasting disease to be confirmed in a free-ranging Michigan whitetail deer," said DNR Director Keith Creagh. "While it is a disappointing day for Michigan, the good news is that we are armed with a thoughtfully crafted response plan.
"We are working with other wildlife experts at the local, regional, state and federal level, using every available resource, to determine the extent of this disease, respond appropriately to limit further transmission and ultimately eradicate the disease in Michigan, if possible."
Also according to the DNR’s announcement last week, it’s "important" to keep in mind that between Jan. 1, 1998-Dec. 31, 2014, tens of thousands of free-ranging Michigan deer were tested and no evidence was found of CWD. The testing included 34,207 deer, 1,607 elk and 70 moose – a large sample of animals with no positive findings.
In privately owned deer populations, approximately 21,000 samples have to date been tested for CWD. All of those have been negative as well, with the exception of a 2008 Kent County case. The state conducts ongoing surveillance of Michigan’s 365 registered, privately owned cervid facilities.
After the Kent County case was discovered, an immediate ban was put in place on all baiting and feeding of deer and elk in the Lower Peninsula. The idea behind the ban was to discourage gatherings of deer and elk around such concentrations of food. These locations can become points of disease spread. Such a site can remain a source of CWD infection for years, according to state officials.
"You think about Cabela’s and other hunting supply places," said David Joers of Joers Farm Center, in a Farm World article from 2008, shortly after the ban was announced. "They stock minerals and food plots. The infected deer they found was in a pen. Personally, I think they jumped the gun a little. I think it’s going to affect everybody."
Opposition to the ban persisted. No more infected deer were detected after that and the ban on feeding and baiting deer was lifted in 2011. After this latest discovery, however, the state will do a number of things, including completing a deer population survey in the area where the animal in question was found.
It will establish a Core CWD Area consisting of several townships in Ingham, Clinton and Shiawassee counties. Unlimited antlerless deer hunting licenses will be available for those locations. Mandatory checking of deer will be required there. There will be restrictions on the movement of carcasses and deer parts in that area.
The state will also create a CWD Management Zone, which will include all of Ingham, Clinton and Shiawassee counties. A ban on deer and elk feeding and baiting will be put in place. Possessing or saving a deer killed in a collision with a motor vehicle will be banned in the smaller Core CWD Area, since according to state officials such deer are more likely to be diseased.
Residents are asked to call in the location of road-killed deer within this area to local or state authorities, so DNR staff can pick it up for testing.
