Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was first identified in the US in the 1970’s. The disease had only occurred in Alberta in three game farm animals until September 2, 2005 when this first wild case was confirmed in Alberta. It appeared in a wild mule deer approximately 30 km south and east of Oyen.

Immediately following the discovery, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development staff, with the co-operation of landowners and residents, collected 133 deer from the immediate vicinity of the infected deer and found two additional cases.

A follow-up was conducted in October with another 29 deer tested for the disease.

"We are pleased to see that no further cases of CWD were found during this latest effort," said David Coutts, Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. "With the co-operation of local landowners, staff are making good progress with the provincial response plan for this disease."

On December 9, 2005 another case was discovered about 15 km south of Empress in a hunter-killed Mule Deer, bringing Alberta’s total wild CWD count to four.

"That one was actually an animal that was shot during the November hunting season. The head was tested and it was confirmed positive for Chronic Wasting Disease," said Lyle Fullerton, Information Officer with Fish and Wildlife.

"We are doing a herd reduction within 10 kilometers of the last positive which was December 9th." This will take place from January 24 – 31.

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Source: Hanna Herald
January 31, 2006

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