There was an update on the CWD investigation from the Michigan Department of Agriculture last week. Basically everything is still unchanged.

     They are systematically certifying and releasing Privately Owned Cervid (POC) farms from the quarantine. If these farms meet the requirements and comply with all the regulations they will indeed be released.Another small change is that in the Kent County hot zone, harvested deer will be able to be deboned which will allow the hunter to take the meat, cape and clean skull cap with antlers without waiting for a negative CWD test to be affirmed. Here is the complete report from the MDA:

Chronic Wasting Disease

Investigation Update

Provided by the Animal Industry Division

Michigan Department of Agriculture

September 26, 2008

Background:
The Michigan departments of Agriculture (MDA) and Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed the state’s first case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a three-year old white-tailed deer from a privately owned cervid (POC) facility in Kent County on Monday, August 25, 2008.
The state quarantined all POC facilities, prohibiting the movement of all – dead or alive – privately-owned deer, elk, or moose. Officials do not yet know how the deer may have contracted the disease. To date, there is no evidence that CWD presents a risk to humans or to animals other than cervids.

MDA Actions:

The state-wide quarantine on all privately owned cervid facilities continues. The State Veterinarian will systematically review and release quarantined facilities that have cleared the disease investigation.

The facilities participating in the state’s CWD Certification program for at least five years, and participating in the bovine Tuberculosis (TB) Accreditation program, will be the first facilities to be considered for quarantine release. Another criterion for quarantine release is full compliance with laws and standards for cervid facilities for the past five years.

All POC facilities, except those that only have reindeer, the 11 facilities determined to be very low risk, and the 45 facilities at low risk, remain under quarantine. Epidemiologists developed a policy for records review and release of quarantines based on management practices and risk. This document titled, “Cervid Industry Criteria for Quarantine Release” is available on the Michigan Emerging Diseases website.

 

The DNR will have refrigerated trucks at the check stations in the CWD surveillance zone for hunters to store their deer while waiting for CWD test results. Once the hunter receives notification from the DNR Wildlife Disease Lab that their deer is negative, the deer may be picked up at the check station.

DNR Actions:

*A list of deer check stations is available at:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/2008_Deer_Check_FINAL_248619_7.pdf

*Hunters may take the boned meat, cape, and clean skull plate with antlers out of the zone without waiting for CWD test results.

Education and Outreach:

MDA and DNR emailed Q & As on CWD to staff answering the telephones

The following information was posted on the emerging disease website:

• DNR Bait Ban

• CWD Fact Sheet

• MDA Quarantine Clarification

• MSU Market Maker

• MDCH Human Health

The MSU Product Center sent a letter to all extension and industry associated with deer bait production to inform them of the Market Maker program, an interactive site that links sellers with buyers. MSUE sent out a news release touching on this service.

The “There’s No Bait Debate” ad in MUCC’s monthly magazine, Michigan Out-of-Doors, was placed for bovine TB, but helps with the CWD issue.

The following meetings were held:

• House of Representatives, September 9, 2008

• West Walker Town Hall, September 9, 2008

• Senate, September 10, 2008

• Natural Resources Commission, September 11, 2008

• MI Agriculture Commission, September 16, 2008

Michigan Carrot Growers meeting September, 19, 2008
Cervid Industry Update, September 25, 2008

 

MDA and DNR staff plan to speak in Ionia County at MSU Extension’s CWD update
Distributed News Releases included information on:
Quarantines

The baiting ban

Clarification of bear bait

West Walker meeting announcement

CWD investigation update

Criteria for quarantine releases

Special five-day, antlerless-only deer season
Information on CWD may be found on the Michigan Emerging Diseases website at www.michigan.gov/chronicwastingdisease.
 

 

 

 

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