The Pennsylvania Game Commission has confirmed two deer with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Luzerne County. One was harvested by a hunter, while the other came from a captive facility at a breeding farm. The farm has been placed under a five-year quarantine due to the positive tests.
The detection of CWD 40 miles from the nearest wild case highlights the need for changes to the Disease Management Area (DMA) in the spring. Details will be revealed after the Board of Commissioners meeting in April.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease caused by misfolded proteins, similar to mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. It can spread through animal-to-animal contact and contaminated environments, with infectious prions remaining in soil for decades.
While there’s no evidence of human infection under natural conditions, the CDC advises against eating deer tested positive for CWD. For concerns or questions, contact the Game Commission’s CWD Hotline at 833-463-6293 or visit their website at www.arcg.is/1G4TLr.
Source: https://www.pennlive.com/outdoors/2025/02/2-deer-test-positive-for-chronic-wasting-disease-in-new-area-of-pa.html