September 9, 2008

LANSING - As the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) investigation continues, officials with the Michigan departments of Agriculture (MDA) and Natural Resources (DNR) today announced additional negative test results for animals sold from the Kent County CWD-positive privately owned cervid (POC) facility to facilities in Montcalm and Osceola counties.

Four animals were removed from Montcalm and Osceola POC facilities, submitted to the Michigan State University (MSU) Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (DCPAH), and all tested negative.

The Kent County facility was depopulated on Aug. 26; and the deer were tested and all were negative for CWD. The Montcalm and Osceola county facilities will not have to be depopulated.

“We are narrowing the investigation and at the same time clarifying the statewide quarantine requirements for POC facilities. Getting results back in a timely manner assists us eliminating some facilities that received deer from the indexherd and additional facilities that sold to the index herd,” said MDA State Veterinarian Steven Halstead. “Good records are essential in a speedy investigation and the owner kept excellent records. We want to make sure these businesses have complete awareness of what is required of them.”

At this time, no live cervid may be transported from a quarantined facility. Whole carcasses must either go to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspected slaughter plant, under official seal, or the meat must be removed from the carcass and no head, spinal tissue, or bones may leave the premises. Violation of quarantine is a felony and may be punishable up to $50,000 in fines and may include prison time.

Shooting ranches are required to provide a consumer warning to clients taking de-boned meat off the premises. A clarification of the statewide quarantine is available on the Michigan Emerging Diseases Web site at www.michigan.gov/chronicwastingdisease.

To control the potential spread of this devastating disease, last week the DNR banned the feeding and baiting of free-ranging deer and elk in the Lower Peninsula; and MDA issued a statewide quarantine banning the movement of deer from all POC facilities. The DNR will increase testing on animals harvested from the region surrounding the CWD positive Kent County facility this fall, and will greatly expand statewide testing efforts as well.

The Michigan CWD response team is a multi-agency team of experts from the Michigan departments of Agriculture, Community Health, and Natural Resources. Michigan State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture also participate in the disease investigations.