Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below A friend of ours was telling us that he had read an article on chronic wasting disease and that they don't know if it can be transmitted to humans either by touching the carcass or consuming the meat and that a deer may be infected even if it is not showing signs. I love deer jerky and salami and this has me more than a bit distressed. Do any of you have any info on this?
Deer Hunters...I have a ?
- Thread starter Temple
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Raghead Remover
New member
Chronic wasting has been identified in several of the deer herds in the midwest. The DNR recommends the wearing of latex gloves while field dressing and butchering here in my state. They also recommend that any meat being consumed be prepared "well done"
ZenMachine
New member
From the State of North Dakota's Game and Fish website - Chronic Wasting Q & A
What is Chronic Wasting Disease?
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a progressive, fatal disease of the nervous system of white-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk. It belongs to a family of diseases known as Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). Although CWD shares certain features with other TSEs like bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease), scrapie in sheep and goats, and Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease (CJD) in humans, it is a distinct disease apparently affecting only deer and elk. It causes damage to portions of the brain; creating holes in the brain cells and causing a sponge-like appearance.
Is CWD transmissible to humans?
According to experts and public health officials, there is no evidence that CWD can be naturally transmitted to humans or to animals other than deer and elk. However, as a precaution, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGFD) recommends that you do not consume brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, and lymph nodes of any deer or elk. There is no evidence that the prions that cause CWD occur in the meat or muscle tissue of infected animals. Nonetheless, NDGFD recommend that you do not consume any deer or elk that has tested positive for the disease.
Another TSE known as BSE, a disease in cattle has been linked to cases of new-variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (nvCJD) in humans in Great Britain. BSE has not been found in cattle in the United States, nor has nvCJD.
What precautions should hunters take when handling or processing deer and elk?
There is no evidence that CWD naturally affects humans. Nonetheless, NDGFD advises that hunters take these simple precautions when handling the carcass of any deer or elk:
Avoid sick animals; don't handle or shoot them, instead contact local wildlife agency personnel
Wear rubber/latex gloves when field dressing deer or elk
Minimize handling the brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, and lymph nodes
Bone out the carcass
Avoid consuming the brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, and lymph nodes of any animal (Normal field dressing coupled with boning out a carcass will remove most, if not all, of these body parts. Cutting away all fatty tissue will remove remaining lymph nodes.)
Thoroughly wash hands, knives, and other tools used to field dress the animal
Dispose of the hide and bones in a sanitary landfill or incinerator
Also, hunters who plan to hunt deer or elk in other states should get additional information from the respective state agency.
Is it safe to eat venison from infected deer and elk?
There is no scientific evidence that CWD is transmissible through consumption of venison. The prion that causes CWD accumulates in certain parts of infected animals, i.e., the brain, eyes, spinal cord, lymph nodes, tonsils, and spleen. Therefore, these tissues should not be eaten. Health officials additionally advise that no part of any animal with evidence of CWD should be consumed by humans or other animals. Experts suggest that hunters take simple precautions when field dressing deer and elk in areas where CWD exists.
Hope this helps,
Zen
What is Chronic Wasting Disease?
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a progressive, fatal disease of the nervous system of white-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk. It belongs to a family of diseases known as Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). Although CWD shares certain features with other TSEs like bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease), scrapie in sheep and goats, and Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease (CJD) in humans, it is a distinct disease apparently affecting only deer and elk. It causes damage to portions of the brain; creating holes in the brain cells and causing a sponge-like appearance.
Is CWD transmissible to humans?
According to experts and public health officials, there is no evidence that CWD can be naturally transmitted to humans or to animals other than deer and elk. However, as a precaution, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGFD) recommends that you do not consume brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, and lymph nodes of any deer or elk. There is no evidence that the prions that cause CWD occur in the meat or muscle tissue of infected animals. Nonetheless, NDGFD recommend that you do not consume any deer or elk that has tested positive for the disease.
Another TSE known as BSE, a disease in cattle has been linked to cases of new-variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (nvCJD) in humans in Great Britain. BSE has not been found in cattle in the United States, nor has nvCJD.
What precautions should hunters take when handling or processing deer and elk?
There is no evidence that CWD naturally affects humans. Nonetheless, NDGFD advises that hunters take these simple precautions when handling the carcass of any deer or elk:
Avoid sick animals; don't handle or shoot them, instead contact local wildlife agency personnel
Wear rubber/latex gloves when field dressing deer or elk
Minimize handling the brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, and lymph nodes
Bone out the carcass
Avoid consuming the brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, and lymph nodes of any animal (Normal field dressing coupled with boning out a carcass will remove most, if not all, of these body parts. Cutting away all fatty tissue will remove remaining lymph nodes.)
Thoroughly wash hands, knives, and other tools used to field dress the animal
Dispose of the hide and bones in a sanitary landfill or incinerator
Also, hunters who plan to hunt deer or elk in other states should get additional information from the respective state agency.
Is it safe to eat venison from infected deer and elk?
There is no scientific evidence that CWD is transmissible through consumption of venison. The prion that causes CWD accumulates in certain parts of infected animals, i.e., the brain, eyes, spinal cord, lymph nodes, tonsils, and spleen. Therefore, these tissues should not be eaten. Health officials additionally advise that no part of any animal with evidence of CWD should be consumed by humans or other animals. Experts suggest that hunters take simple precautions when field dressing deer and elk in areas where CWD exists.
Hope this helps,
Zen
Tarheel
New member
Wisconson planned on "exterminating" around 15,000 deer last spring or summer in one area due to extreme overpopulation combined with CWD and weak genetics due to inbreeding. Don't know how many they finally killed.
Special tags were issued to land owners and state wildlife control officers were to shoot them from helicopters as well.
Special tags were issued to land owners and state wildlife control officers were to shoot them from helicopters as well.
The Ranger
New member
Also be aware of hoof and mouth disease....not a threat to humans, but as already stated...prepare the meat well before you consume it....I'll have to send you a bit of my jerky and bologna Mrs. Temple....
Ranger
Ranger
I think it will be a few years before they have a true handle on what the bottom line is.
Only time will tell....just shot healthy animals.
Thats been my practice the last couple years.
If its sick let it run......thats what you would do normally anyway...just look harder and make sure.
Only time will tell....just shot healthy animals.
Thats been my practice the last couple years.
If its sick let it run......thats what you would do normally anyway...just look harder and make sure.
The Ranger
New member
I am different in that approach Cleaner...If I'm in the woods and an animal comes by in obivious pain and starving, I generally put it down....not to use but to ensure no suffering and the spread of disease to the rest of the herd....doesn't happen often, but I have done it a few times.....
Ranger
Ranger
The Ranger
New member
Heh heh heh....Touche' Cleaner....<wink>
Ranger
Ranger
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