Portage County Deer Farm Under Quarantine Due to CWD
A deer farm in Portage County, Wisconsin, has been placed under quarantine after a 3-year-old buck tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
The test result was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. The farm will remain under quarantine while an epidemiologic investigation is conducted by veterinarians and staff from DATCP and the US Department of Agriculture.
Portage County, located in central Wisconsin, has previously reported cases of CWD in both free-ranging and captive animals. The county is surrounded by other CWD-positive counties.
CWD is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease of cervids such as deer, elk, and moose, caused by infectious misfolded proteins called prions.
The DATCP reported the case on October 10, highlighting the ongoing concern of CWD in the region.
Author's summary: Wisconsin deer farm quarantined due to CWD case.