Battle Against 'Zombie Deer Disease' Ongoing In Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA — A new report outlines the status of chronic wasting disease in Pennsylvania and details the efforts made by state officials to manage what an official said is "one of the greatest wildlife challenges we face."

The disease — nicknamed "Zombie deer disease" — is a highly contagious infection that develops very slowly in the lymph nodes, spinal tissue and brains of deer.

While there is no evidence that it can be spread to humans and there have been no reported cases of infections in people, some animal studies suggest chronic wasting disease poses a risk to certain types of non-human primates, like monkeys, that eat meat from CWD-infected animals or come in contact with brain or body fluids from infected deer or elk, according to the Centers for Diesease Control. These studies raise concerns that there may also be a risk to people.

"There are still many unknowns regarding CWD and its impacts on humans. It is critical to remain vigilant and minimize human exposure to CWD," according to the new state report.

Chronic wasting disease was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2012 in Adams County. Several months later, it was detected in Blair and Bedford counties.

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As a result of these detections, the Pennsylvania Game Commission established Disease Management Areas to mitigate the risks from human-assisted spread of the disease. Human-assisted spread of chronic wasting disease occurs by moving infected deer or elk or their parts into unaffected areas.

Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans said managing the disease "is one of the greatest wildlife challenges we face.

The new state report released this week details the status of the disease in Pennsylvania, as well as the work in progress to fight the disease.

“CWD threatens one of Pennsylvania’s prized natural resources,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “This administration has taken aggressive steps to contain the disease through a scientific, fact-based approach. We are using new genetic testing tools to help predict which deer will contract the disease, funding research to help better understand and trace the disease and working together strategically to control its spread.”

The state report offers advice hunters and others can follow to minimize risks and links to key disease-prevention resources.

• Participate in testing. Free testing is available for any deer harvested in a Disease Management Area, or DMA. If you harvest a deer deposit the head, with your completed harvest tag affixed to the deer’s ear, in a head collection container.
• If you are hunting within a DMA, before you leave the DMA, deposit high-risk parts from your deer in a high-risk parts disposal dumpster. High-risk parts include the head, lymph nodes, spleen, and spinal column. You may also dispose of any other unused deer parts in these dumpsters.
• Do not shoot, handle or consume an animal that appears sick; report the animal to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
• Submit harvest tags and samples while hunting in chronic wasting disease DMA areas.
• Wear gloves when handling any cervid carcass and follow proper guidelines for processing venison.
• Have dedicated knives and utensils for processing game meats.
• Refrain from consuming high-risk tissues and organs (brain, heart, etc.)
• Avoid use of natural urine-based lures.
• If unable to deposit in DMA disposal dumpster, double bag high-risk parts and dispose of in an approved landfill.

Chronic wasting disease was first detected in captive deer and other members of the hoofed Cervidae family in the late 1960s in Colorado and wild deer in 1981, and gradually has spread throughout the country.