UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The big question about chronic wasting disease is no longer if it will show up in Pennsylvania, but rather when and where, according to scientists who say it is reasonable to assume that CWD is already in the Keystone State.

"It may be here and testing has not yet revealed it," says Gary San Julian, professor of wildlife resources in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. "With CWD having been discovered recently in wild deer both in southern New York and northern West Virginia, we have to be realistic about the possibility and prepare for it."

Chronic wasting disease, which is a progressive disease of the nervous system always fatal to deer, elk, and other cervids, has been known to exist in western states for nearly four decades, and it hasn't decimated the herds, as wildlife biologists feared, notes San Julian. "Deer hunters have gotten used to living with it and it hasn't ruined their sport or their health. I think that's the attitude we should take with CWD here in Pennsylvania."

David Wolfgang, senior research associate in veterinary and biomedical science, points out that although CWD is a fatal disease among cervids, research suggests that humans, as well as cattle and other domestic livestock, are resistant to natural transmission. "While the possibility of human infection remains a concern, it is important to note there has never been a case of humans contracting CWD," he says. "The disease, which appeared in Colorado in the late 1960s and has spread east and south since then into 12 states, has not jumped between species."

When the malady, which scientists theorize is caused by an unknown agent capable of transforming normal brain proteins into an abnormal form, showed up almost four years ago in Wisconsin, wildlife management officials in that state embarked on an aggressive deer-depopulation program and killed thousands of wild animals.

"But after spending millions of dollars to eradicate a massive number of deer and test hundreds of thousands of deer, they still have CWD in Wisconsin," says San Julian. "They couldn't get rid of it, and when it shows up in Pennsylvania, we won't either."

Perhaps most alarming to wildlife-management officials was the precipitous decline in the sales of hunting licenses in Wisconsin after CWD was discovered in that state, because hunters are the major tool used to control deer numbers. "Hunting license sales in Wisconsin have returned to just about where they were prior to CWD," San Julian says. "We are encouraging Pennsylvania hunters not to overreact to the presence of CWD and not to change their way of life unnecessarily.

"We have no reason to believe that CWD could affect humans, but with some common-sense precautions, they can protect their health and their family's health."

Catherine Cutter, associate professor of food science who specializes in the food-safety aspects of processing meat from deer and other wild game, agrees. She notes that hunters can be safe without going to a lot of trouble.

"CWD has not been linked to human illness, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against eating meat from deer infected with CWD," she says. Cutter advises hunters to now observe the following basic precautions when handling deer carcasses.

--Avoid butchering, processing or consuming venison from an animal that appeared sick in any way. "Steer clear of deer that appear emaciated, wobbly or display an unnatural lack of fear," she says.

--Wear rubber or latex gloves when handling venison and processing deer. "That's a wise practice even if you aren't worried about CWD," she says.

--Don't cut into the brain, spinal cord, spinal column or lymph nodes when butchering.

--If possible, hang deer by hind legs with head down when butchering. "Most cattle and livestock processed in this country are hung with the head down," Cutter says. "That prevents brain and spinal fluids from contacting the meat."

--Use a knife and debone all venison. "Cutting bone could expose meat to nerve tissue," Cutter says.

--Once you are finished processing, clean all knives and utensils thoroughly with warm, soapy water, and then soak them for a few hours in a 50 percent solution of bleach and water. "Strong chlorine solutions have been shown to greatly decrease the infectivity of prions, the infectious agents of CWD found in the nerve tissue of infected animals," she says.

--Properly dispose of brain, spinal cord, spleen, tonsils and other organs. "Appropriate disposal depends on what state you are in," Cutter explains. "In Pennsylvania, you should seal the remains in plastic trash bags and be certain they are disposed of in a lined landfill that is not exposed to runoff and doesn't leach into groundwater. That describes most municipal landfills."

###

EDITORS: Contact Catherine Cutter at 814-865-8862 or by e-mail at cnc3@psu.edu; Gary San Julian at 814-863-0401 or by e-mail at jgs9@psu.edu; and David Wolfgang at 814-863-5849 or by e-mail at drw12@psu.edu.

Writer/Editor Jeff Mulhollem Office: 814-863-2719