APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) — Two Northeast Wisconsin deer farms have had positive tests for Chronic Wasting Disease.
One of the farms was in Langlade County, the other in Outagamie County. They’re two of four recent positive tests statewide. State Veterinarian Dr. Darlene Konkle says the disease is a concern for the deer population in the state.
“Chronic Wasting Disease is a prion disease,” Dr. Konkle explained. “It’s transmissible and can affect the brain of deer and other cervids, which include elk.”
While doctors know some methods through which the disease transfers, there’s a lot they don’t know.
“We know it can be transmitted through saliva,” Konkle told WTAQ. “Other ways we’re still learning about.”
Konkle says that the most recent outbreaks aren’t all random and have been traced to deer transfers from a farm in Taylor County.
Quarantines have been put in place on the impacted farms, but Konkle says it’s possible that the farms may need to be depopulated and the deer euthanized.
A major hurdle for the diagnosis and test for Chronic Wasting Disease is that it cannot be confirmed until after the animal is dead.
Deer with CWD look malnourished, can lose their fear of humans, salivate excessively, and isolate themselves from other animals.
There have been no cases of CWD spreading to humans, but Konkle urges hunters to get their deer tested, as the meat shouldn’t be consumed.
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