Lookout for CWD still on

This year's deer seasons have seen the Pa. Game Commission continuing its lookout for the potentially devastating chronic wasting disease (CWD). Game officials have joined veterinarians and laboratory technicians in sampling thousands of deer taken by hunters. About 4,250 were checked last year.

Elk killed by hunters have also been checked, as have deer that have died of unknown illness or were exhibiting abnormal behavior.

No evidence of CWD has been found. CWD is a progressive and always fatal disease. There is no vaccine to prevent an animal from contracting the disease, nor is there a cure for animals that become infected. There is no evidence of CWD being transmissible to humans or to other non-cervid livestock under normal conditions.

Commonly observed signs of an infected animal include lowered head and ears, uncoordinated movement, rough-hair coat, weight loss, increased thirst, excessive drooling, weakness, and ultimately, death.

CWD is present in freeranging or captive wildlife populations in 14 states and two Canadian provinces.

Pennsylvania bans the importation of specific carcass parts from states and provinces where CWD had been identified: Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York (CWD containment area only), South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.