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New York State DEC discovers rare disease in upstate deer
Spectrum News • • health
Key Points:
- A wild deer in Livingston County, N.Y., has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) for the first time since 2005, prompting the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to establish a containment area in several towns for at least five years.
- Hunters in the containment area must submit samples from their harvested deer at designated collection stations starting November 12, and they may be contacted by the DEC if their deer tests positive for CWD.
- CWD is a slow-progressing disease that can cause symptoms like extreme weight loss, drooling, and disorientation in late stages, but infected deer can appear healthy when harvested; the DEC is prioritizing efforts to assess and manage the outbreak to protect the state's $1 billion deer hunting industry.
- If a deer tests positive, hunters will be asked to surrender the venison and will receive a replacement carcass tag; while there are no known human cases, the CDC advises against consuming meat from infected animals.
- Hunters outside the containment area can report sick or dying deer to the DEC and may pay for CWD testing at Cornell University for harvested deer.
