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Economic Impact of Chronic Wasting Disease

Posted by Jennifer Smith on 22nd Mar 2018

Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal, neurological disease in cervid species (elk, deer) is spreading throughout the United States. This deer disease, also known as the "Zombie Deer Disease" is spread from animal to animal through feces or saliva and does not affect humans (as far as we know). 

States are noticing the economic impact of CWD as hunters are purchasing less hunting licenses. The deer hunting industry is estimated at 23 billion, reported by the Outdoor Industry Association's Outdoor Recreation Economy Report.  Alabama's game animal hunting alone generates close to 1.8 billion. 

CWD has been detected in captive and free-ranging deer and elk in 23 states and two Canadian Provinces: Colorado, Wyoming, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Wisconsin, New Mexico,Minnesota, Oklahoma, Illinois, Alberta, Utah, New York, West Virginia, Kansas, Michigan, Virginia,Missouri and North Dakota. 

Deer farmers with infected deer are required to quarantine their deer farm and remove the infected deer. It is recommended that deer farmers separate deer with deer fencing. Know the signs of Chronic Wasting Disease in deer now.

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