Georgia wildlife officials are issuing a warning after a deer tested positive for what is commonly referred to as “zombie deer disease.” The official name for this condition is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disorder that affects deer, elk, and moose.
Currently, there are no treatments available for CWD, and it invariably leads to the death of the infected animal.
Walter Rabon, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, reassured hunters, stating, “I want to assure our hunters that deer hunting will continue to thrive in Georgia, despite this current discovery. Working together with our hunters and all Georgians, we will manage CWD and maintain healthy deer herds.”
This warning follows a previous alert issued last year when cases of the disease were identified in Florida, raising concerns that it could spread to Georgia. The Department has developed a response plan aimed at containing the disease, which is being implemented in Lanier and Berrien counties.
About the disease: Chronic Wasting Disease was first identified in 1967 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Infected deer often appear normal at first. However, as the disease progresses, symptoms such as significant weight loss, poor body condition, subtle head tremors, and drooping of the head and ears may become evident. In the later stages, excessive drooling is a common sign.
To date, positive cases of CWD have been reported in 36 states. If you notice a deer displaying any of these symptoms, please reach out to your local Wildlife Resources Division Game Management Office.
While CWD has not been shown to be transmissible to humans, the Centers for Disease Control advises against consuming meat from known CWD-positive deer.
For more information on Georgia’s efforts to combat the spread of CWD, visit https://georgiawildlife.com/cwd.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/ga-wildlife-officials-warn-positive-203018853.html
