Chronic Wasting Disease found in deer in Jeff Davis Parish
JEFF DAVIS PARISH, La. (KLFY) -- Chronic Wasting Disease has been found in a deer in Acadiana, officials said.
LSU's Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, in coordination with the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, confirmed a positive CWD test Nov. 7 from a deer carcass at a deer farm in Jeff Davis Parish.
According to a news release from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the farm has been issued a quarantine restricting movement into or out of the facility, including live deer or deer products, and a 25-mile radius surveillance zone has been activated.
The Office of the State Veterinarian has established a surveillance zone for herds near the affected deer farm and is diligently reviewing recent movement records. All deer farms in the surveillance zone are under restricted movement until further notice.
CWD is a neurodegenerative disease of white-tailed deer and other members of the family Cervidae. It is caused by an infectious protein particle, and is 100% fatal in affected deer after an indeterminate incubation period. There is no treatment or preventative vaccine for CWD.
CWD-infected deer may exhibit signs of weight loss and emaciation, excessive salivation, frequent drinking and urination, incoordination, circling and lack of fear of people. It always results in death of the animal.
Louisiana deer hunters in Jeff Davis Parish are encouraged to assist by submitting samples. A deer head with 4 to 5 inches of neck is needed for diagnostic testing. The LDWF Field Office in Lake Charles is the closest option for submitting samples at this time.
CWD surveillance of harvested deer from the area will be critical in understanding whether or not the native herd has been exposed. Early detection is crucial to slowing the spread of the disease.
Although CWD has not been shown to be contagious to humans, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend against the human consumption of deer known to be infected with CWD.
Also, it is recommended that people hunting in areas known to harbor CWD-infected deer have their deer tested for the disease prior to consuming the animals.
For more information on CWD, click here or contact LDWF Deer Program Manager Johnathan Bordelon jbordelon@wlf.la.gov.
LDWF has conducted statewide surveillance of free-ranging deer since 2002. To date, the only CWD detections in the wild have been collected in Tensas Parish.
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