WASHINGTON – Two white-tailed deer in West Virginia’s Harpers Ferry National Historical Park have tested positive for the deadly chronic wasting disease (CWD), the National Park Service (NPS) announced Tuesday.
NPS added that this is the first positive case of CWD detected in a national park in West Virginia.
CWD is a highly contagious and deadly disease that affects animals such as deer, elk, moose, and caribou, causing physiological and behavioral changes, starvation, and death.
These behavioral changes include depression, changes in gait, head shaking, and circling, according to the NPS.
This behavior is why animals infected with CWD are informally called “zombie deer.”
The latest discovery was made during recent white-tailed deer reduction efforts and subsequent disease sampling, with both animals taken from portions of the park in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
Two nearby national parks in Maryland, Antietam National Park and Monocacy National Battlefield, also recently had their first positive CWD tests in early March.
NPS says Harpers Ferry and other national parks in the region are reducing deer populations to protect and restore native plants and preserve historic landscapes.
Two white-tailed deer at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park have tested positive for the deadly chronic wasting disease. VWPics/Universal Images Group (via Getty Images)
National parks in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and West Virginia that have deer reduction efforts also participate in CWD monitoring programs.
Until this year, park results in these locations were all negative.
NPS says there is currently no evidence to suggest that CWD can be transmitted to humans.
However, it is recommended that you do not eat tissue from animals infected with CWD.
CWD causes physiological and behavioral changes, starvation, and death. MediaNews Group (via Getty Images)
NPS said it donates all deer meat obtained from deer reduction efforts to local food banks whenever possible.
However, any meat that tests positive for CWD will be destroyed.
NPS announced it will continue to monitor collected deer for CWD and will destroy any deer meat that tests positive for CWD.
