Chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in a deer in Page County, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
DWR said the disease was found in an adult female deer and is the first case discovered in Page County. The county has been included in disease management efforts for several years due to its proximity to other areas where CWD has already been detected.
Infected animals may not exhibit any symptoms of CWD for 16 months to two years after exposure. Once deer reach the symptomatic stage of disease, they rapidly lose weight and begin demonstrating neurological symptoms, such as a drooping head and a lack of awareness of their surroundings, according to DWR. It is a fatal disease.
CWD has been monitored by DWR since 2002. The first case in Virginia was detected in Frederick County in 2009. It has now been detected in wild white-tailed deer in 18 counties in Virginia.
The discovery will not lead to any regulatory changes.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that hunters test all deer harvested from CWD-positive areas and not consume meat from animals that test positive. Voluntary testing sites are available.
There is no evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans, pets or livestock, but DWR said there is still a lot that is unknown about the transmission of the disease.
The DWR wildlife health team will be on hand at the Virginia Cooperative Extension office in Stanley to answer questions on Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. The office is located at 215 W. Main St.
Any suspected cases of CWD may be reported to the wildlife conflict helpline at (855) 571-9003.
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Crystal Graham
