GOVERNOR RENDELL APPROVES STATE RESPONSE PLAN

Mandatory CWD Surveillance Begins Oct. 1;

restriction on Hunter-killed Carcass Parts Goes into Effect

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HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania has adopted a plan to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), a progressive, fatal disease that affects the nervous system of cervids (deer- and elk-type animals including mule deer, elk, and black- and white-tailed deer).  The CWD Response Plan is designed to prevent the spread of the disease and attempt to control it in the event the disease is found in Pennsylvania.  

There is no known treatment, vaccine or live animal test for detecting the disease among the animal population.  This disease has never been found in Pennsylvania and poses no known threat to humans. 

In approving the prevention plan, Governor Rendell said, "Because Chronic Wasting Disease is found in two neighboring states, we need to be ready to respond to protect our state's wild and captive deer and elk populations.  The deer and elk population are important not only to our agriculture industry, but also to our one million hunters.  Hunting has a $4.8 billion impact on the state's economy.  This plan will help us to ensure a rapid response in the event of a CWD case, and limit the impact to the state's economy."

Representatives from many state agencies including Agriculture, the Game Commission (PGC), Environmental Protection, Health and the PA Emergency Management Agency, and two federal agencies, USDA Wildlife Services and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Vet Services drafted the CWD Response Plan approved this week by Governor Rendell.   The plan describes Pennsylvania's intended response to the threat of a CWD event or outbreak in the commonwealth.  Pennsylvania's response will be a coordinated effort involving various stakeholders, state and federal agencies.

Governor Rendell also added that the Department of Agriculture (PDA) expects to implement a mandatory captive surveillance monitoring program on Oct. 1.  Currently, more than 250 herds (representing 10,000 individual cervids) participate in PDA's voluntary CWD Herd Certification Program.  In addition, PDA provides laboratory testing, materials and staff to assist the PGC with wild deer and elk CWD surveillance.  This year, PGC plans to test at least 4,000 hunter-harvested wild deer for the disease.  

Governor Rendell also announced that the Department of Agriculture, with the support of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, is ordering an immediate ban on the importation of high-risk carcass parts from states and Canadian provinces that have a history of CWD in free ranging deer populations, with two exceptions.  Parts are banned only from the containment area in New York, and from Hampshire County in West Virginia.  High-risk carcass parts, where the CWD prion (causative substance) concentrates in cervids, include the head, brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils and lymph nodes.

As of today, CWD has been detected in wild and captive herds of deer and/or elk in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, as well as in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta.  There is no practical way to test live animals for CWD, nor is there a vaccine. 

Clinical signs include poor posture, lowered head and ears, uncoordinated movement, rough-hair coat, weight loss, increased thirst, excessive drooling and, ultimately, death.  There is currently no scientific evidence that CWD has or can spread to humans, either through contact with infected animals or by eating meat of infected animals.

In addition to the mandatory surveillance program and carcass parts restrictions, the administration has been working to improve public education and outreach on CWD.  PDA veterinarians and field staff offer CWD workshops for the cervid industry including deer farmers, taxidermists, veterinarians, butcher shops and other interested groups and also train individuals in tissue sampling. 

For more information about CWD, visit USDA's information site at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs and click on 'Chronic Wasting Disease.'  The CWD Response Plan is online at www.agriculture.state.pa.us, click on 'Animal and Plant Health,' 'Chronic Wasting Disease,' and 'Response Plan.'