Chronic Wasting Disease Found at Kentucky Deer Farming Facility

I credit the late, great Marlin Perkins and his iconic wildlife series, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, for my knowledge of the horrific CWD, or chronic wasting disease. Whatever Perkins's camera was trained on, he knew everything there was to know about the creature we were observing. And yes, sometimes these wonderful animals were suffering. I remember hearing of this affliction on his show.

Unfortunately, chronic wasting disease isn't unique to one or two parts of the world. If there are multiple deer close to one another, it's always a possibility.

Chronic Wasting Disease Report from Western Kentucky

Sadly, the fatal illness has turned up at a deer farming facility in Breckenridge County, according to a report from Eyewitness News/WEHT. Testing on a deceased deer confirmed the results. This video presentation offers a good example of what CWD looks like. It is NOT graphic:

What Is Chronic Wasting Disease?

Also known as "zombie deer disease," CWD is caused by a protein that attacks the brain and nervous system. If a deer is infected, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources says you might not know for a while as it takes about 16 months, on average, for symptoms to develop. Testing an animal after its death is the only sure-fire way of knowing if CWD was the culprit, but if one is infected, here's what the KDFWR says to look for:

This is why testing is so important. The CDC adds these suggestions:

• Do not shoot, handle or eat animals that look sick or act strangely.
• Do not touch or eat meat from animals found dead (roadkill)

When field-dressing a deer or handling meat:

• Wear latex or rubber gloves
• Avoid handling its internal organs, especially the brain or spine.
• Do not use knives or other tools you use in your kitchen.

Also, there have been concerns about transmission to humans, but, so far, there has been no evidence that humans can be infected by CWD.