Published Date: 2002-01-31 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH> Chronic wasting disease, cervids - USA (Colorado)
Archive Number: 20020131.3452
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE, CERVIDS - USA (COLORADO)
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See Also
Chronic wasting disease, cervids - USA (Nebraska) (02) 20020126.3402Chronic wasting disease, cervids - USA (Nebraska) 20020124.3374
Chronic wasting disease, cervids - USA (Kansas) 20020101.3145
Date 29 Jan 2002
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Rocky Mountain News, 29 Jan 2002 [edited
<http://RockyMountainNews.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_962690,00.ht
ml>
Disease may spur quarantine; Wild elk, deer killed in northeastern part of
Colorado would be checked for disease
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Colorado State agricultural officials are considering a quarantine of all
wild deer and elk killed in northeastern Colorado in a vigorous attempt to
stop the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD).
If adopted, the quarantine would mean hunters could not remove their
animals from the endemic area before having them checked for the disease.
The affected area stretches from Fort Collins east to Nebraska and from the
Wyoming border to the South Platte River.
State Veterinarian Wayne Cunningham said for such a plan to work, it would
require "quick tests" of 4 hours, or 24 hours at most, which could be
administered at big-game check stations.
CWD is in a class of fatal diseases called Transmissible Spongiform
Encephalopathies (TSEs). Another disease in the same class, called BSE or
"mad cow disease," has killed more than 100 people, mostly in Great Britain.
There is no proof CWD can infect humans, but that has not stopped the
concern. "It's a bit of a domino effect based on fear," said Cunningham.
He said the proposal calls for all deer and elk killed by hunters, game
wardens, ranchers, road-killed, or simply found dead in the endemic area to
be tested for CWD. If any are found to be positive, they would be disposed
of in high-temperature furnaces.
"In order for this to be acceptable to everyone involved, we are pinning
our hopes on 2 new CWD tests, one that takes 24 hours to determine if the
animal is positive for CWD, and another that takes only 4 hours,"
Cunningham said.
Currently, because of the backup in testing at the University of Wyoming
and Colorado State University and the method of testing, hunters have been
waiting 6 to 8 weeks at times for results from the tests.
Cunningham said enforcement would fall to wildlife officers staffing check
stations.
"This is especially important for other states not wanting infected deer or
elk from Colorado being transported into their states," Cunningham said.
Cunningham said news the disease has turned up in free-roaming deer in
Nebraska prompted a review of Colorado's efforts to contain CWD.
"The situation in Nebraska is much worse than anticipated," Cunningham
said. Recently 3 deer tested positive in the southwestern part of the state
near the endemic areas in Colorado and Wyoming; 6 other diseased deer have
shown up in the northern part of the panhandle.
Colorado Division of Wildlife director Russ George said he hasn't seen the
proposal yet, but said any steps to control the disease "would be welcome."
Cunningham said the quarantine is only an idea so far, and that before it
goes to the state Agriculture and Wildlife commissions for adoption as a
rule, staff from both agencies will work closely to ensure an enforceable
plan.
He believes it will take 3 weeks to a month to draft a rule for
consideration by both commissions.
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[This program looks like it stands a good chance of at least getting a
handle on CWD. It may set a precedent for testing of beef cattle once a
quick test become available. If there is hunter compliance, this stands a
chance of actually working. - Mod.TG
....................................tg/pg/es
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