Deer Farm in Wisconsin Quarantined as Chronic Wasting Disease Strikes
A deer farm in Wisconsin has been placed under quarantine after a case of chronic wasting disease (CWD), a deadly brain disease, was confirmed. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, identified the disease in a three-year-old doe, as announced by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture on Thursday.
The farm, called Thundeer Trophy Whitetails, spans 150 acres in Washburn County. Officials from both state and federal agriculture departments are currently conducting an investigation into the disease’s spread. This farm is home to around 300 deer.
Records from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reveal that the infected doe was moved from Rodenkirch Whitetails and Genetics, a deer farm located in Beaver Dam, on October 4. The doe has already been removed from Thundeer Trophy Whitetails’ herd.
Chronic wasting disease is a prion disease that affects deer, elk, and moose, leading to symptoms like weight loss, stumbling, and neurological issues, as described by the CDC. The disease’s presence was not identified in either farm during the transfer, even though a doe at the Rodenkirch farm had tested positive for it in March.
This disease has been identified in various regions, including North America, Canada, Norway, and South Korea, affecting deer, elk, reindeer, and moose. The onset of symptoms can take up to a year.
Wisconsin first encountered chronic wasting disease in 2002, leading to the culling of deer from 22 facilities in the state due to its fatal nature. Presently, there are no known treatments or vaccines for this disease.
While there haven’t been reported cases of CWD infections in humans, studies suggest a potential risk to human health, according to the CDC. The disease’s impact on people remains a subject of investigation.
Note: This article is based on the findings of various experts and the information available at this time. The Associated Press contributed to this report.