HOUSTON, Minn. – Veterinarians confirmed nine new cases of chronic wasting disease in deer at a game farm that had been cleared of the disease five years ago. Linda Glaser of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health said the cases illustrate how elusive CWD can be to detect and control quickly before it infects multiple animals within a herd. The herd had been in good standing since it was double-fenced in 2017, Glaser said. The owner had followed all regulations, she said. The time the disease was found in October in a 2-year-old white-tailed deer. Since then five does and four bucks were found infected. The farm now has been depopulated of 46 deer. Per regulations the farm cannot have any deer or elk for five years. Also, the owner must maintain fencing to prevent wild deer from accessing empty pens. Biohazard signs must be posted on the fencing.
Disease profile
CWD is a disease of deer and elk caused by prions that damage brain and nerve tissue. The disease is most likely transmitted when infected deer and elk shed prions in saliva, feces, urine, and other fluids or tissues. CWD is not known to naturally occur in other animals. The disease is fatal in deer and elk, and there are no known treatments or vaccines. Consuming meat from a CWD positive animal is not advised