Second case of chronic wasting disease found in Westman
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/12/2021 (1747 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The province will start culling deer after a second case of chronic wasting disease was found in Westman.
The second infection was found in a mule deer that was emaciated and acting erratically in the southwest corner of the province, according to Manitoba chief veterinary officer Scott Zaari. It was found as part of routine surveillance.
Chronic wasting disease is fatal and incurable disease that affects deer, moose and caribou. Eating infected meat is not known to be a health risk for humans, but is not recommended, according to the province. The disease spreads from animal to animal through contact with saliva.
A case was previously found near Lake of the Prairies in November, which prompted a temporary hunting ban and containment measures. The case was the first time the disease was found in the Manitoba deer population.
Starting Monday, the province will begin reducing the local deer population near where the first case was found.
“Science tells us transmission can be reduced by selective early targeting animals in concentrated area,” Zaari said.
“If action is taken to control CWD early on, in terms of what we’re doing now, success is more likely.” If action is not taken, he said it could become endemic in deer.
The deer will be shot by a marksman in a helicopter in the containment zone, said assistant director of Wildlife, Fisheries and Resource Enforcement Maria Arlt. She said the province doesn’t know how many deer are in the area, so officials don’t know how many will be killed.
The bodies of the deer will be tested for the disease to determine how widespread it is. Non-infected meat will be given to First Nations and local communities to waste as little as possible.
The province has asked permission of local landowners to come onto their property.
The second deer was found approximately 250 kilometres away from the first, so the cases are not believed to be related, Arlt said.
There is no risk to any livestock animals, Zaari said. The disease only infects animals in the deer family.
The province is still working on a management plan in the area the second case was found.
» dmay@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @DrewMay_