The British Columbia government has launched an investigation into a possible case of chronic wasting disease found in a deer harvested in the scenic Okanagan region. This discovery could mark the first instance of the disease outside the established management area in the Kootenay region, according to provincial officials.
According to a release from the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship, a hunter provided a sample from a white-tailed deer taken down east of Enderby. Initial tests on the sample indicated the potential presence of the disease. Further testing is now underway by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, with results anticipated by early December.
Chronic wasting disease is a severe and infectious illness that impacts various species including deer, elk, moose, and caribou. While no conclusive evidence suggests transmission to humans, Health Canada and the World Health Organization advise against consuming meat from infected animals.
The province has reported a total of six confirmed cases of the disease to date. Recent measures have been implemented to monitor and prevent its spread, including mandatory testing for deer, moose, and elk in the Kootenay region, along with regulations governing carcass transportation.
The Ministry stresses the importance of individuals outside the designated region submitting samples for testing to help track the disease’s presence. The B.C. Wildlife Federation has echoed this sentiment, urging hunters to participate in testing, even if not within the mandatory zone.
In anticipation of the CFIA’s test results, the provincial wildlife veterinarian has assembled a team to strategize potential next steps in addressing the situation.