Montana game farm quarantined after positive elk CWD test

A Montana game farm is under quarantine after an elk tested positive for chronic wasting disease, state Department of Livestock reported.

brain wasting disease hasn’t been identified in domestic deer or elk in state since 1999, officials said.

elk appeared healthy and was slaughtered for meat, but illness was discovered in testing required by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Herd Certification Program. State officials did t identify game farm involved or say where it was located, citing confidentiality requirements.

Livestock Department placed herd under quarantine while cause of infection is investigated.

Montana law requires CWD-positive game farm herds to be quarantined for five years or for all animals to be killed and tested for disease.

CWD is a progressive, fatal disease that affects nervous system of deer, elk and moose. Infected animals may carry disease for years without showing signs of illness that in later sts can lead to weight loss, lack of coordination and physical debilitation, ncy said. re is kwn transmission of CWD to humans, however Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends hunters harvesting an animal in areas with kwn CWD to have ir animals tested and to t eat meat if animal tests positive.

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks has documented CWD in wild deer, elk and moose across much of Montana through surveillance that began in 2017. In 2019, approximately 7,000 wild deer, elk, and moose were sampled statewide, with 140 testing positive for CWD.