Released on November 28, 2002
Saskatchewan Environment has received confirmation of another case ofChronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a wild deer in Saskatchewan bringing the
total number of CWD cases found in the wild to five. Earlier this month
this case had been announced as being suspicious.
This most recent case was found in a two-year-old mule deer buck taken this
fall southeast of Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, north of Stewart
Valley. This fall, two cases of Chronic Wasting Disease have been found in
mule deer taken by hunters near Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park. The
three positive cases found before this fall had all been taken in the
Manito Sandhills south of Lloydminster.
The Herd Reduction Area currently in effect near Saskatchewan Landing
Provincial Park has been expanded to include the area where the latest
confirmed case was found. Revised maps are available for people hunting in
the area.
So far this fall, hunters from across the province have submitted 2300 head
samples for CWD testing at the Canadian Co-operative Wildlife Health Centre
and Prairie Diagnostic Services in Saskatoon. This is slightly ahead of
last year at this time. Saskatchewan Environment is encouraging hunters to
continue to turn in as many heads as possible.
Current science indicates that CWD poses no known risk to humans or to
domestic livestock.
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For more information, contact:
Kevin Omoth
Saskatchewan Environment
Regina
Phone: (306) 787- 8102