CWD found in S. Mississippi deer, 150 miles from nearest previous case. How did it happen?
Another case of chronic wasting disease has been discovered in a Mississippi deer and brings the statewide total to 224 since it was first detected in the state in 2018.
This recent case was found more than 150 miles from the nearest CWD case in the state and a new CWD management zone will be created.
"If you look at the Mississippi cases, the straight-line distance is 165 miles," said Russ Walsh, Wildlife Chief of Staff for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. "This positive was in southwest Harrison County, northeast of Diamondhead and about 12 miles northwest of Gulfport.
"It was on private land. It was a 2 1/2-year-old buck."
Walsh said the tissue sample was taken by a taxidermist who is partnered with MDWFP to help manage the spread of the disease. It was initially tested in Mississippi. When the test yielded a positive result, a sample was sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories where it was confirmed positive through a second test.
"You just hate it," Walsh said. "Here we are with CWD in another part of the state. It's unfortunate for the resource and conservation."
How did CWD get to Harrison County, Mississippi?
Where do deer sleep?: Think you know where that buck is bedding? MSU Deer Lab study shows big bucks sleep around
Chronic wasting disease affects white-tailed deer and related animals such as mule deer and elk. It is caused by deformed proteins called prions that effectively eat holes in infected animals' brains. It is spread through direct and indirect contact with infected animals and is always fatal.
Although the disease has never been documented in humans, the CDC warns against eating meat from an infected animal.
The nearest known case of the disease in Mississippi is in Warren County. So, how did it travel to Harrison County? Walsh said it could have reached the area through transportation of live deer. Another possibility is it came from the carcass of a dead deer that was transported to Harrison County. A third possibility is it was introduced through animal feed containing plant matter that had absorbed the deadly protein.
"It could be a number of things in this case," Walsh said.
Alabama and Florida recently had the disease seemingly appear from nowhere. According to the University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute, the disease was discovered in a road-kill deer in Holmes County, Florida near the Alabama border.
Like the Harrison County case, it was well over 100 miles from the nearest known positive.
"You now know it can pop up anywhere," Walsh said. "Given our history, it can be anywhere."
CWD in Mississippi deer: Myths debunked and how hunters can help manage the disease
When will a new CWD management zone go into effect?
According to Mississippi's CWD Management Plan, a CWD Management Zone will be formed in Harrison County. It will be defined by borders such as highways, roads and rivers and extend out roughly 10 miles from where the deer was harvested.
Within that zone, special rules will be in place to slow the spread of the disease such as a ban of supplemental feeding which unnaturally congregates deer and can accelerate transmission.
What that zone will look like and when it will be put in place is currently not known. Walsh said given that it is early in the deer season, putting a new zone in place may come sooner than later.
Walsh also said the new case points to the need for hunters to be aware of the disease.
"Hunters need to stay engaged, continue to submit samples and take this disease seriously," Walsh said.
CWD in Mississippi: Here's where hunters can take deer for testing
Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: First case of CWD recently found in South Mississippi deer
