New York CWD Events

Follow the CWD events taking place in New York as they occurred

Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Oneida County, NY Wild Deer

2nd Case of CWD Confirmed in Captive Deer

2nd Case of CWD Found in Captive Oneida County Deer
Positive Case of CWD Found In Oneida County Deer

Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Oneida County, NY Wild Deer
Preliminary Positive Result Found During DEC Monitoring Efforts

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced it has received a preliminary positive result for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a wild deer sampled in Oneida County.  If confirmed, this will be the first known occurrence of CWD in the wild in New York State.

The positive sample was from a yearling white-tailed deer, and was tested as part of DEC's intensive monitoring effort in Oneida County.  The sample tissue was tested at the State's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University.  The sample will be sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa to be verified.

DEC implemented intensive monitoring efforts after CWD was found in two captive white-tailed deer herds in Oneida County - the first incidents of CWD in New York State.  On April 8, 2005, the State Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) completed testing of the captive deer and found a total of five positive results for CWD in the two captive herds.

To date, DEC, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services program, has sampled 213 deer from Oneida County, and 25 deer from the Town of Arietta, Hamilton County.  Since 2002, DEC has conducted statewide sampling of wild deer for CWD.  When combined with sampling efforts in Oneida and Hamilton Counties, DEC has collected more than 3,700 samples from wild white-tailed deer. 

In response to the latest finding, DEC and DAM will continue public outreach to interested parties in Oneida County to help educate citizens on CWD and to discuss next steps to be taken.  In addition, DEC and DAM will conduct additional outreach and continue to aggressively pursue inspection and enforcement at all captive deer herds across the State.

DAM continues to investigate, sample and test white-tailed deer from two
captive herds directly associated with the two herds that were confirmed positive for CWD in Oneida County.  Results for these sampling efforts will be announced when available.  DAM also continues to review its regulations regarding the movement, surveillance and monitoring of live cervids in New York State.

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Later this week, DEC will file emergency regulations to ensure the proper handling of deer and prevent further spread of CWD in the wild herd.  The emergency regulations will establish a containment area in Oneida County, where CWD has been identified and where certain requirement will be established on movement and handling of deer.  The containment area will initially include the cities of Rome, Sherrill, Utica and Oneida, as well as the towns of Floyd, Marcy, Whitestown, Westmoreland, Verona, Vernon, Kirkland and New Hartford.  Within the containment area, DEC's emergency regulations will:

* prohibit the movement of certain animal parts out of the containment area;

* establish mandatory check stations for any deer taken by hunters in the containment area;

* prohibit possession of any deer killed by a motor vehicle so DEC can acquire specimens for testing; and,

* prohibit the collection, sale, possession or transport of deer or elk urine taken from the containment area.

In addition to the requirements listed for the containment area, DEC's emergency regulations will include provisions to be followed by individuals and facilities across the State.  The emergency regulations will also:

* specify record keeping and reporting requirements for taxidermists and require measures to prevent live cervids from coming in contact with any materials, including taxidermy materials, that may contain the infectious agent that causes CWD;

* prohibit wildlife rehabilitators to take in wild white-tailed deer at facilities that house live cervids, unless they possess a specific permit from DEC;

* require retailers who sell deer feed to post a sign provided by DEC to advise buyers of the State prohibition on feeding wild deer; regulations will also prohibit the sale of deer feed that is packaged or labeled for wild white-tailed deer.

DEC will continue intensive sampling of wild deer in Oneida County through April 30, 2005.  Additionally, DEC will sample all deer killed within the containment area pursuant to nuisance deer permits and by hunters for CWD testing.  DEC will use the results of all these efforts to describe the distribution and prevalence of CWD in wild deer as accurately as possible. 

CWD is a transmissible disease that affects the brain and central nervous system of certain deer and elk.  There is no evidence that CWD is linked to disease in humans or domestic livestock other than deer and elk. 

2nd Case of CWD Confirmed in Captive Deer

Chronic wasting disease was discovered in a 2nd captively held deer in central New York, days after the deadly malady was first detected in the state, agricultural officials said Saturday.

Both white-tailed deer had been part of captive herds in Oneida County. The 2nd positive case was discovered in a small herd that had taken in animals from the herd that yielded the initial positive case earlier this week, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Chronic wasting disease -- or CWD -- is a degenerative neurological illness that is deadly to some deer and elk species. There is no evidence that CWD is harmful to humans or other domestic livestock.

New York agricultural officials said they were trying to determine the source of the disease in both of the dead animals, but stressed it should not be considered a public health threat.

"This is an animal health issue first and foremost. There's no link to disease in humans," said state agricultural spokeswoman Jessica Chittenden. "We're doing everything we can to control this."

The herd that yielded the initial positive, as well as 6 other captive herds that potentially came into contact with that herd, have been quarantined. Animals in the 2 herds with deer that tested positive will be killed and tested for CWD. State officials are also testing wild deer in Oneida County.  State officials have not identified the herd owners.

CWD has been detected in wild and captive deer and elk populations in 12 states in the West and Midwest.

Scientists don't know how the disease is transmitted among animals. Symptoms of the disease include weight loss, stumbling, tremors, lack of coordination and listlessness.

2nd Case of CWD Found in Captive Oneida County Deer
State's Trace Back Finds 2nd Positive CWD in Herd Directly Linked to Index Herd

4-2-05
A 2nd positive case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in New York State has been confirmed in a white-tailed deer from a captive herd in Oneida County that is directly linked to the herd where a white-tailed doe was found positive for CWD earlier this week.

CWD is a transmissible disease that affects the brain and central nervous system of deer and elk. There is no evidence that CWD is linked to disease in humans or domestic livestock other than deer and elk.

During the investigation of the State's 1st case of CWD this week, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets found that one of the herds associated with the index animal had recently sent a sample to the State's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to be tested for CWD. The sample was collected and sent for testing as part of the State's mandatory CWD surveillance and testing protocols.

The positive sample was from a 2.5-year-old white-tailed deer that died from aspiration pneumonia, which is often but not exclusively associated with CWD. Due to the direct association with the index herd, the Department expedited the testing procedure by re-routing the sample to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, which late yesterday found the sample to be positive for CWD.

2 days ago, the New York State Departments of Agriculture and Markets, and Environmental Conservation announced the State's 1st case of CWD, found in a 6-year-old white-tailed doe from a captive herd in Oneida County. The deer was sampled as part of the State's Enhanced CWD

Surveillance and Monitoring Program.
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Currently, the index herd and the 6 other associated herds, including the 2nd positive herd, are under quarantine. All animals remaining in the index herd and the herd with the 2nd confirmed positive herd will be depopulated and tested for CWD. The investigation to determine the source of the infection is ongoing.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets will continue to seek any susceptible deer that came into contact with either herd and to assess the health and environmental risks associated with such establishments.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will continue to conduct intensive monitoring of the wild deer population surrounding the 2 positive herds to determine if CWD has spread to wild deer.

CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of deer and elk. Scientific and epidemiological research into CWD is ongoing. To date, research shows that the disease is typified by chronic weight loss, is always fatal, and is transmissible between susceptible species. CWD has been found only in members of the deer family in North America, which include white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose.

More information and the transcript of Thursday's press conference regarding the 1st positive case of CWD in New York State can be found at the Department of Agriculture and Markets' website at
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us or at the Department of Environmental Conservation's website at
http://www.dec.state.ny.us.

Positive Case of CWD Found In Oneida County Deer
Mandatory Testing Protocols Find CWD in a Captive White-Tailed Doe

The first positive case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in New York State has been confirmed in a white-tailed doe from a captive herd in Oneida County.  CWD is a transmissible disease that affects the brain and central nervous system of deer and elk.

There is no evidence that CWD is linked to disease in humans or domestic livestock other than deer and elk.

The animal that tested positive for CWD was a six-year old white-tailed doe that was slaughtered from a captive herd in Oneida County as part of the State’s mandatory CWD surveillance and testing protocols. Preliminary tests performed at the New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University determined the presumptive positive, which was confirmed late yesterday by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has officially quarantined the index herd in which the positive deer was found, and will depopulate and test all deer on the premises.  Other herds associated with the index herd have also been quarantined and an investigation has been initiated to find and test any susceptible deer that came into contact with the index herd and to assess the health and environmental risks associated with such establishments.  The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will conduct intensive monitoring of the wild deer population surrounding the index herd to ensure CWD has not spread to wild deer.

CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of deer and elk.  Scientific and epidemiological research into CWD is ongoing.  To date, research shows that the disease is typified by chronic weight loss, is always fatal, and is transmissible between susceptible species.  CWD has only been found in members of the deer family in North America, which include white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose.

CWD has been detected in both wild and captive deer and elk populations in isolated regions of North America.  To date, CWD has been found in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming in the United States, and in Saskatchewan and Alberta in Canada.

Establishing the known CWD health status of captive and wild cervid populations is a critical component for controlling CWD.  In New York, the responsibility for controlling CWD is shared between the State Department of Agriculture and Markets, DEC, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). New York’s cooperative, active surveillance program serves as a model for the nation in CWD control.

The State Department of Agriculture and Markets monitors the health and movement of all captive deer and elk for the presence of common livestock diseases, including CWD.  In July 2004, the Department initiated the CWD Enhanced Surveillance and Monitoring Program, which requires captive deer and elk herd owners to take various actions, including routine sampling and testing, animal identification and an annual herd inventory. Since the inception of testing for CWD in 2000, 681 captive deer and elk have been tested and found negative for CWD.

DEC issues licenses to individuals who possess, import or sell white-tailed deer.  DEC also routinely tests New York’s wild deer population.  Following the discovery of CWD in Wisconsin, DEC implemented a statewide surveillance program in April 2002 to test wild white-tailed deer for the presence of CWD.  Samples are collected and sent to an approved USDA laboratory for analysis.  To date, DEC has taken samples from 3,457 wild white-tailed deer, including 40 from the county where the positive deer was found.  All samples from wild white-tailed deer have tested to date have been negative for CWD.

DEC will also implement precautionary regulations limiting transportation and possession of whole carcasses and some parts of wild deer taken near the location of the captive herd.  These regulations will be similar to those currently in place for importation of carcasses and parts of deer into New York.

DEC has also implemented regulations restricting various activities to help control CWD within the State, including restrictions on the importation of live deer and elk, deer feeding, importation and possession of certain deer parts and carcasses, and transportation of deer and elk carcasses through New York State.

USDA APHIS supports individual State programs by providing funding for CWD prevention and surveillance.  USDA APHIS reimburses states conducting CWD testing on their wild and captive cervid population and also provides indemnification dollars for captive herds that must be destroyed due to the presence of CWD.

New York State has 433 establishments raising 9,600 deer and elk in captivity.  In the wild, DEC estimates there are approximately one million deer statewide.