Two dead deer in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, have tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), according to officials. The infected animals are a hunter-harvested deer and another from a captive facility.
The disease was detected at a farm that recently had one of its deer transferred in with CWD. As a result, the farm is under quarantine for five years and must test any other deer that die or have dead bodies on the property. Any additional positive tests will extend the quarantine period.
CWD spreads through direct contact between animals and contaminated environments. Infected deer shed prions in their saliva, urine, and feces, and carcasses can also spread the disease. The Pennsylvania Game Commission advises against feeding deer due to the risk of transmission.
However, CWD has not yet infected humans or other species naturally. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture handles cases involving captive deer.
Source: https://www.abc27.com/pennsylvania/recent-detections-of-cwd-in-dead-deer-in-pennsylvania