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A case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been confirmed at a deer farm in New York State, according to a news release from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) yesterday.

After the case was identified through routine surveillance by the Departments of Agriculture and Markets in DEC Region 6, the state activated its multi-agency CWD response plan to investigate the discovery and increased surveillance of wild deer in the region.

“Although there is currently no evidence that CWD is occurring in wild deer, DEC will initiate increased surveillance of wild deer, working with local hunters, processors and taxidermists in the region,” DEC said. “Efforts are also underway to collect roadkill to determine whether CWD is present in wild deer. This enhanced sampling and monitoring will serve as the basis for additional measures to guide the state’s disease management strategy.”

First confirmed case since 2005

CWD, a neurological disease that affects deer such as deer, elk, moose and reindeer, was first confirmed in New York in 2005 in captive and wild deer in Oneida County, also in Region 6. “Since then, DEC has conducted testing on more than 65,000 wild deer across the state with no additional cases detected in New York,” the release said.

Although there is currently no evidence that CWD is occurring in wild deer, DEC will initiate increased surveillance of wild deer, working with local hunters, processors and taxidermists in the region.

The disease is caused by misfolded infectious proteins called prions, which are extremely resilient and can persist in the environment for years. CWD poses a constant threat to deer because it can spread from animal to animal and through pollution. The disease is not known to infect humans, but authorities recommend not eating meat from a sick animal and taking precautions when butchering or butchering deer.