Published Date: 2001-09-24 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease, cervids - USA (Colorado) (02)
Archive Number: 20010924.2317

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE, CERVIDS - USA (COLORADO) (02)
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See Also

Chronic wasting disease, cervids - USA (Colorado) 20010217.0314
Chronic wasting disease, captive deer - USA (Nebraska) 20010125.0180
Chronic wasting disease, captive elk - USA (Oklahoma) 20010209.0266
Chronic wasting disease, cervid - USA: human risk? 20010126.0193
Chronic wasting disease, deer to cattle 20010314.0515
Chronic wasting disease, elk - USA: informing hunters 20010118.0141
Chronic wasting disease, wild deer - Canada (SK) 20010409.0697
Chronic wasting disease, wild deer - Canada (SK) (03) 20010723.1436
Chronic wasting disease, wild deer - USA (Nebraska) 20010117.0140
Chronic wasting disease: update April 2001 20010429.0830
2000
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Chronic wasting dis., elk - Canada (Saskatchewan) 20000425.0619
Chronic wasting dis., elk - Canada (Saskatchewan) (04) 20001218.2220
Chronic wasting disease, elk - USA (Montana) 20000112.0043
Chronic wasting disease, elk - USA (Montana) (04) 20000728.1252
Date: Sat 22 Sep 2001 12:31:51
From: M. Cosgriff <mcosgriff@hotmail.com>
Source: AP [edited

Elks Infected with Brain Ailment
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Elk in 3 private, farmed Colorado herds were found to be infected with
a brain ailment called chronic wasting disease and will be destroyed.
One herd is in south-central Colorado, raising concerns the disease
could spread into the state's renowned Western Slope elk and deer
herds. "We simply can't let it get away," said Russell George, director
of the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
The other 2 herds are in the northern part of the state, where the
disease has been present for decades. Chronic wasting disease is a
degenerative disorder that attacks the brains of deer and elk, causing
unsteadiness, excessive slobbering, confusion, and death. All 1000 elk
will be slaughtered and tested for the disease, said Dr. Wayne
Cunningham, a state veterinarian.
State wildlife officials say the transport of elk between ranches has
spread the disease as far away as Saskatchewan, Montana, and South
Dakota. Elk ranchers say their animals were infected by wild deer and
blame the wildlife agency for not eradicating deer between Fort Collins
and Cheyenne, Wyoming, where the outbreak is believed to have
started. Elk are raised for meat and their velvety spring antlers, which
can fetch as much as $70 per pound as a nutritional supplement.
--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[Would someone with reliable information tell us how many are
eventually found to be infected? This is not to question the decision to
slaughter, just to get a more realistic appreciation of the number seen to
be affected that triggered the events. - Mod.MHJ, JW
......................................mhj/pg/jw
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