- Jacob Kise
- Feb 12, 2025
- https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/poconos-coal/carbon-county/deer-in-carbon-county-tests-positive-for-fatal-neurological-disease-pa-game-commission-says/article_bfe80c1a-e97e-11ef-bc2c-9b658520eb56.html
PACKER TWP., Pa. – The Pennsylvania Game Commission said Wednesday a deer in Carbon County tested positive for a fatal neurological disease.
The deer, an adult male, was detected in Packer Township, according to a news release from the commission. The detection of Chronic Wasting Disease is the first in Carbon County and is more than 10 miles from any other confirmed CWD-positive deer, the game commission said.
The game commission says the deer was found dead by a landowner and was severely emaciated.
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An always-fatal neurological disease caused by a misfolded protein called a prion, CWD is a threat to deer and elk, according to the news release. It’s classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy and is similar to scrapie in sheep, mad cow disease in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. the game commission said.
The game commission says CWD spreads through direct animal-to-animal contact, as well as indirectly through prion-contaminated environments. CWD-infected deer shed prions through saliva, urine and feces, and infected carcasses contribute to environmental contamination, according to the news release.
Once in soil, the game commission says CWD prions remain infectious for decades. Therefore, feeding deer is strongly discouraged and is illegal within existing DMAs, according to the game commission.
There is no evidence of CWD infecting humans or other species under natural conditions, according to the game commission’s news release. However, much is still unknown about CWD, therefore the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends not eating the meat of a CWD-positive deer.
The commission says it will host an informational meeting to answer any questions from the public. It is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Penn State Hazleton, Graham Building Room 115, Parking Lot F. Penn State Hazleton Campus address is 76 University Drive, Hazleton PA 18202.
Contact the Game Commission’s CWD Hotline at 1-833-INFOCWD, email INFOCWD@pa.gov or visit http://www.arcg.is/1G4TLr for more information.
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