DEC TO TEST FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE IN HAMILTON COUNTY

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today
announced it will sample approximately 20 wild deer in the Town of
Arietta, Hamilton County in order to test for chronic wasting disease
(CWD). 

    Recently, CWD was found in two captive white-tailed deer herds
in Oneida County, marking the first incidents of CWD in New York State.
The State Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) completed testing
for CWD on the two herds in an effort to control the possible spread of
the disease in New York State.  Five of the 22 deer from the two captive
herds tested positive for CWD.

DAM has been investigating other captive deer herds associated with the
index herds.  One of those herds that supplied deer in the mid-1990s to
the index herd in Oneida County was located in the Town of Arietta in
Hamilton County. Since the herd no longer exists and the owner of the
herd is now deceased, DEC will sample approximately 20 wild deer the
area surrounding the former captive herd to determine if there is any
reason to believe the former captive herd may have been infected with
CWD. 

The sample tissues will be sent to the New York State Veterinary
Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University to be analyzed for CWD.
Results of the analysis will be made available as soon as they are
confirmed, which is expected to take approximately seven to 10 days.

In addition to Hamilton County, DEC has initiated intensive monitoring
of the wild deer population surrounding both herds in Oneida County to
determine if CWD has spread to wild deer.  Extending the effort to the
specified area in Hamilton County will provide essential information on
the health of wild deer and assist DEC and DAM in possibly identifying
the source of the disease in New York State.

    CWD is a transmissible disease that affects the brain and
central nervous system of certain deer and elk.  There is no evidence
that CWD is linked to disease in humans or domestic livestock other than
deer and elk.

    More information on CWD can be found at the State Department of
Agriculture and Markets' website at www.agmkt.state.ny.us, at DEC's
website at www.dec.state.ny.us or the State Department of Health's
website at www.health.state.ny.us.

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05-34


Mary Young
Media Relations
NYS DEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-1016
518-402-8000