The Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget to launch a national chronic wasting disease study and CWD herd certification program. The certification program and study are aimed at supporting the captive deer and elk industry in the United States and reducing CWD in captive herds. If the study and program are approved, participation will be voluntary.

Dr. Randy Pritchard, a veterinary medical officer with USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services who focuses on CWD, says he hopes the certification program and survey will be approved by fall 2005. "There is not a lot of information available for this industry," he said.

First detected in 1967, CWD has been found in members of the deer family, which include white-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk. To date, the disease has been identified in 13 states (see map) and two Canadian provinces.

In April, APHIS announced it was seeking OMB approval for a study that would collect information, through the National Animal Health Monitoring System, on the health and management practices of up to 5,600 cervid producers. "All indications are that it will be approved," Dr. Pritchard said.

If given the green light, the study will describe the farmed/captive cervid industry and identify the most efficient ways to contact producers for outreach purposes. In addition to other information, APHIS will track how long particular herds have been monitored for CWD.

"It is really important that people know that this is a voluntary study and that it is completely confidential," Dr. Pritchard said. "They won't be giving us any identification information. There will be no way to tie this back to an individual."

For the entire story, click here.

Source: javmaNews
June 16, 2005

Back to Hot Topics