The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced two deer have tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Luzerne County. The deer were detected 40 miles from the nearest wild CWD detection and will result in Disease Management Area (DMA) changes later this spring.
A captive deer farm in Luzerne County was identified as the source of the infected animals, which were tested positive on December 16. Initial test results were confirmed by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on December 23. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has placed the farm under a five-year quarantine order, requiring it to test additional deer that die on the farm and restrict the movement of deer on and off the property.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease caused by a misfolded protein called a prion, which affects deer and elk. It can be transmitted through direct animal-to-animal contact or contaminated environments. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture manages CWD programs for captive deer farms to help slow the spread of the disease and ensure the business operates safely.
Residents are advised not to eat meat from infected deer, as there is no evidence that humans can contract the disease under natural conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends avoiding consumption of CWD-positive deer meat.
In other news, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has made its 2025 adult trout stocking schedule available online. Anglers can review the schedule by county or waterway to plan their fishing trips. Additionally, the North Branch Land Trust is hosting a Great Backyard Bird Count event from February 14-17, and the Path of the Flood Trail in Cambria County has been named Pennsylvania’s 2025 Trail of the Year.
Source: https://www.timesleader.com/news/1683485/pa-game-commission-newly-detected-chronic-wasting-disease-positives-in-nepa