Vancouver/CMEDIA: It has reportedly been confirmed by further testing that a sample submitted from a male white-tailed deer harvested east of Enderby is negative for chronic wasting disease (CWD).
An infectious and fatal disease, CWD is affecting cervids, including deer, elk, moose and caribou.
A “non-negative” finding for the sample was shown by the initial screening test by the B.C. Animal Health Centre, meaning the disease could not be definitively ruled out and required more testing.
Following standard protocol, when the sample was sent for confirmatory testing to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reference laboratory using three different methods, all results were negative for CWD.
Even though the result was negative, CWD still remains a serious concern in B.C. and does not change the confirmed presence of CWD within the provincial CWD management zone in the Kootenay region.
Hunters remain essential partners in B.C.’s CWD surveillance efforts. People are strongly encouraged to continue submitting samples from deer, elk and moose harvested anywhere in B.C. to help determine where the disease is present and to detect new cases as early as possible.
Continuing to implement the actions outlined in B.C.’s Surveillance and Response Plan for CWD, ongoing surveillance, targeted sampling in higher-risk areas, and continued collaboration with First Nations, local governments, hunters and partner organizations would also be included by the Province.
Transmission of CWD to humans lacks direct evidence, and there have been no reported cases in people. However, Health Canada and the World Health Organization recommend prevention of any potential risk of transmission or illness, advising humans not to eat meat or other parts of an animal infected with CWD.
Focused on surveillance, limiting further transmission, the Province is trying to reduce the spread of CWD to new areas, and minimizing impacts on wildlife populations throughout B.C.
To date, there have been six confirmed cases of CWD in B.C., all within the Kootenay region.
