Georgia has reported its first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD), an infection in white-tailed deer that can spread rapidly. A 2.5-year-old buck was detected in Lanier County, part of routine surveillance efforts by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. The DNR is now expanding its CWD management plan, including additional sampling and a dedicated management area in Lanier and Berrien Counties to monitor the spread.
The next crucial step is determining how far the disease has spread and how prevalent it is within this area. The DNR plans to use cluster sampling with landowner cooperation to gather data. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns against consuming meat from infected animals due to potential health risks similar to those associated with prion diseases like mad cow disease.
This detection marks an important milestone in Georgia’s efforts to manage CWD, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and collaboration between wildlife managers and local communities to address this emerging challenge.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/chronic-wasting-disease/georgia-confirms-cwd-case-becoming-36th-us-state-report-fatal-prion-disease