Fatal wasting disease found in Manitoba deer

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/03/2023 (1173 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An an incurable, fatal disease has been detected in two white-tailed deer in Manitoba, the province reports.

Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development said in a press release that two white-tailed deer have been infected with chronic wasting disease, along with additional detections in mule deer.

The disease first detected in Manitoba is 2021 is incurable and fatal. It affects cervids — members of the deer family — including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose and caribou. Animals infected with CWD may appear healthy until the later stages of the disease. If the disease spreads and becomes endemic to Manitoba, there is a serious risk that the disease will threaten the health of all cervid populations in the province.

A total of 20 positive cases have been detected to date: 18 in mule deer (17 male and one female) and two male white-tailed deer. Cases were identified from mandatory biological sampling submissions of animals as well as animals harvested by department staff, the press release said. It thanked hunters for taking part in efforts to manage the disease and said that submissions have exceeded the capacity to test samples at accredited Canadian labs, which is leading to higher-than-expected wait times. The province continues to receive and post test results, but estimates the wait time is currently 16 to 20 weeks from the time of submission.

The disease is not known as a human health risk, but meat from a CWD-infected animal is not recommended for consumption. Hunters who are active in areas where it is a concern should have harvested animals tested, practise safe carcass-handling protocols, and avoid consumption of any animal that has tested positive for CWD.

— Staff