Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development advises two additional cases of deer infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) have been detected in Manitoba.
CWD is an incurable, fatal disease that affects members of the deer family (cervids) including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose and caribou. Animals infected with CWD may appear healthy until the later stages of the disease. If the disease spreads and becomes endemic to Manitoba, there is a serious risk that CWD will threaten the health of all cervid populations in Manitoba.
First detected in Manitoba in 2021, the two recent cases of CWD were identified from mandatory biological sampling submissions of animals harvested near the communities of Dropmore and Coulter where CWD was previously detected. Both cases occurred in male mule deer.
To assist in monitoring for CWD, the province expanded the harvested cervid mandatory biological sample submission zone in 2022. All licensed hunters in the expanded mandatory sample submission area are required to provide head and upper neck samples of harvested white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk for CWD testing.
CWD is not known as a human health risk, but meat from a CWD-infected animal is not recommended for consumption. Hunters who are active in areas where CWD is a concern should have harvested animals tested, practise safe carcass-handling protocols and avoid consumption of any animal that has tested positive for CWD.
Samples results from harvested animals will be posted on the province’s website gov.mb.ca as they become available.
Hunters with concerns or questions about an animal that has been harvested can contact the province by calling 1-204-638-4570.
For more information, visit gov.mb.ca.
