The US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) late last week announced it will provide $12 million to state and tribal governments, research institutions, and universities to control and prevent chronic wasting disease (CWD).
The money will boost surveillance, testing, management, and response activities for the fatal prion disease, which affects cervids such as deer, elk, and moose. Approximately $6 million will be for projects to control CWD in farmed cervids and will be based on the state's CWD status and the number of herds and cervids participating in their CWD Herd Certification Program. The other $6 million will support research and management of CWD in wild cervids.
"Specifically, these funds will allow for State departments of agriculture, State animal health agencies, State departments of wildlife or natural resources, federally recognized Native American Tribal governments and organizations, and research institutions and universities to further develop and implement CWD research, management, and response activities," APHIS said in an agency press release.
CWD is a slow and progressive disease caused by misfolded prions, which affect animals' brains and ultimately leads to their death. It spreads through cervid-to-cervid contact and environmental contamination. Although no human cases of CWD have been reported, health officials warn the public not to eat the meat of infected animals.
CWD was first identified in captive deer in Colorado in the late 1960s and in wild deer in 1981. The disease has been confirmed in 36 states.
