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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INVESTMENT, TRADE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Manitoba.ca > Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources >
Natural Resources > Fish and Wildlife > Wildlife > Chronic Wasting Disease


CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE IN MANITOBA


NEWS RELEASE

January 24, 2024 - Province Advises Additional Cases of Chronic Wasting Disease
Case Detected Near Winkler


NEW - 2023 HUNTER - EXTRACTED CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD) SAMPLES

 * Hunters now have the option to extract and submit the required tissue samples
   themselves.
 * Details on the required samples and step-by-step instructions can be found
   here:
   
   * Deer - lllustrations on how to extract tissue samples
     * Video: Lymph Node Extraction Instructional Video Chronic Wasting Disease
   * Elk - Illustrations on how to extract tissue samples

Manitoba has had proactive programming in place for prevention and surveillance
of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in wild cervids (deer, moose, elk and caribou)
since 1997. The program includes CWD surveillance, prohibitions to prevent
potentially CWD-positive animals and material from entering Manitoba, as well as
various regulatory requirements to minimize unnatural clusters of animals in
high-risk areas (e.g. through feeding or baiting).

On November 1, 2021, Manitoba announced the first CWD-positive case found in the
province, located on the west side of the province near Lake of the Prairies. A
mule deer buck in this area was observed to be unhealthy and acting unnaturally.
It was euthanized by staff, tested, and confirmed to be infected with CWD.
Additional findings of CWD have been confirmed to date as a result of department
management actions.

In response to these detections, Manitoba is taking action to contain the
disease and protect the province’s deer-family populations. More information
about the provincial response is being shared regularly on this site as it
becomes available.

What is CWD?

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal disease of the central nervous system
of deer, elk, moose and caribou, members of the cervid (deer) family. The
disease is caused by one or more strains of self-propagating proteins, called
prions. The prions, once transmitted, begin to propagate, first in the immune
system (lymph nodes and tonsils) and later, in the brain, spinal cord and other
organs. This disease belongs to a group of diseases called transmissible
spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). TSEs tend to be species-specific and
scientists believe that most are not naturally transmissible between different
species.

What are the disease symptoms and can an infected animal be cured?

In early stages, infected animals can appear normal, while also spreading the
disease.  As the disease progresses, animals tend to be less alert, and fearful,
with a general unhealthy look and obvious weight loss.  As it progresses,
infected animals become very thin and uncoordinated, with drooping ears and
heads, are unaware of their surroundings and often have excessive drooling.  At
this point, death is near. 

There is no cure for CWD. It is always fatal, with animals dying typically
within two to three years and sometimes, as long as five years or more from the
time of infection.

How is CWD spread?

Infected animals can shed prions in saliva, feces, urine, and possibly, even
after death, through their remains. Animals are infected by direct
(animal-to-animal) contact transmission or by indirect transmission from prions
deposited in the environment. It should be noted that prions can survive in the
environment for an extended period of time (e.g., possibly five years or more.)

Can people, or livestock, get CWD?

Currently, there is no direct evidence that CWD can be spread to humans or
animals, other than members of the deer family, though the science is still
developing in this area. The World Health Organization (WHO), Health Canada, US
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and numerous other public
health agencies recommend against eating meat from CWD-positive animals.
Available data suggest that risk of transmission to humans is low, but it is not
zero. These public health agencies also recommend against feeding meat or other
parts of CWD-infected cervids to other animals.

Regulatory Requirements and Current Restrictions


2023 CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD) REGULATION CHANGES – NEW!!

The Wildlife Health Program is implementing CWD testing improvements for
2023/24.New amendments now provide an option for hunters to extract and submit
the testable tissue samples themselves rather than submitting the cervid’s
entire head. In addition, mandatory sample submissions periods have been
extended from two days to seven days to allow hunters additional time to extract
samples. See more information provided below:

 * 2023 CWD Program Update



TEMPORARY HUNTING CLOSURES

There are no temporary hunting closures at this time



MANDATORY SURVEILLANCE REQUIREMENTS

By law, licenced hunters are required to submit biological samples mule deer,
white-tailed deer, and elk harvested in the mandatory surveillance zone. This
includes the areas of Game Hunting Areas (GHAs) 5, 6, 6A, 11, 12, 13, 13A, 18,
18A, 18B, 18C, 22, 23, 23A, 27, 28, 29, 29A, 30, 31, 31A, 32, 33, 35, and 35A

Hunters have the option of submitting the entire head and upper neck of
harvested animals, or, hunters may extract and submit the testable tissues
themselves. Testable tissues include:

 * Medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes and lower jaw of mule deer and
   white-tailed deer.
 * Brain stem (obex) and lower jaw of elk.



Since there is currently no reliable CWD test available for living animals, the
province relies on the submission of these biological samples from harvested
animals in order to test for CWD. Please submit samples to any of the
department’s Drop-off Depots within seven days of harvesting.

Note: The requirement to submit the lungs and trachea (for Bovine Tuberculosis
testing) of deer and elk harvested in GHAs 23 and 23A has been removed.


FEEDING OR BAITING WILD CERVIDS

Feeding or baiting wild cervids in all the above noted GHAs is illegal for
everyone in Manitoba. Hunters are also prohibited from baiting cervids elsewhere
in Manitoba, and feeding is not recommended. Information about why this is not
recommended, is available in Manitoba’s Wildlife Smart fact sheet, Don’t Feed
the Deer.


POSSESSION OF CERVID-DERIVED SUBSTANCES

Possession of any substance containing cervid bodily fluids (including urine,
feces, saliva or scent glands) is prohibited in Manitoba.


RESTRICTIONS ON CERVIDS HARVESTED OUTSIDE MANITOBA

It is illegal for everyone to bring any deer, elk, moose or caribou harvested in
another province or state into Manitoba unless the head, hide, hooves, mammary
glands, entrails, internal organs and spinal column are first removed and left
in the province or state of origin.

Deboned or processed meats are allowed. Antlers are allowed if they have been
detached from the connecting bone plate, all hide and other tissue has been
removed, and they have been treated with a solution of not less than 2%
chlorine. Detached, unprocessed hides and capes are allowed if they are stored
in a sealed, waterproof container from which no fluid, tissue or hair can escape
and if they are being delivered to a tanner or taxidermist for processing no
later than five days after entering Manitoba.



Submitting Samples

Where is Sampling required?

By law, licenced hunters are required to submit biological samples mule deer,
white-tailed deer, and elk harvested in the mandatory surveillance zone. This
includes the areas of Game Hunting Areas (GHAs) 5, 6, 6A, 11, 12, 13, 13A, 18,
18A, 18B, 18C, 22, 23, 23A, 27, 28, 29, 29A, 30, 31, 31A, 32, 33, 35, and 35A.

Hunters have the option of submitting the entire head and upper neck of
harvested animals, or, hunters may extract and submit the testable tissues
themselves. Testable tissues include:

 * Medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes and lower jaw of mule deer and
   white-tailed deer.
 * Brain stem (obex) and lower jaw of elk.

Please submit samples within seven days of harvesting to any of the department’s
Drop-off Depots.

The department is reviewing the CWD sample program and additional sampling will
likely be required in the near future to determine disease prevalence, both from
within the current mandatory zone and elsewhere.

Where can I drop off my samples?

There are sample drop-off depots located throughout the province. Depot
locations can be found here. This list will be kept up-to-date as additional
drop-off locations are added.

When hunting in areas where sample submission is required:



 * submit samples within seven days of harvesting
 * use the poly bags provided at depots
 * be prepared to provide all information required to fill out the Wildlife
   Sample Receipt Form
 * antlers and heads will NOT be returned. Hunters wanting to retain antlers
   will be responsible for cutting their own antlers off or having a taxidermist
   remove materials needed for a trophy mount. Samples must still be submitted
   within the seven day time period.



What information do you need?

When submitting your sample, you will be expected to provide the following
information:



 * date of kill
 * exact location of the kill (GPS coordinates or a legal land parcel location)
 * species
 * sex of the animal, and
 * contact information



Note that only complete samples with all required information will be tested for
disease. Failure to submit the required sample material and all required
information may result in prosecution.

Please keep your Sample Number as this will allow you to confirm testing
results.

How will I be notified?

If a hunter’s sample tests positive for CWD, they will be immediately notified
by phone. All results of hunter harvested samples will be posted on our website.
Hunters will find their test results via the Sample Number provided when they
submitted their head for CWD testing at a drop-off depot.

The province will be making every effort to expedite results, and more
information will be released soon so hunters will know how to get their results
quickly. The actual time to get test results will depend on the volume at the
lab but it can take a few weeks. Options for additional testing capacity are
being explored.

Sample Test Results

Sample test results for CWD will be posted on this website as they become
available.

To confirm the result of a test, compare the Sample Number - located on the
top-left corner of the Wildlife Sample Receipt Form to the list of CWD sample
test results.

A sample reporting as “Negative for CWD” means that CWD was not detected in the
sample. If a sample tests “Positive for CWD”, hunters will be immediately
notified by phone and results made public. Public health agencies recommend that
hunters not consume CWD positive animals.

If the result comes back as “Contact Wildlife Health Program”, it means the
sample was not tested, and more information is required. Contact the Wildlife
Health Program at cwd@gov.mb.ca , citing the sample number in the subject line. 

Some samples may be reported as “Untestable” for several reasons:

 * the wrong tissue type was submitted

 * mandatory information was not complete
 * the sample was missing, decomposed, damaged, or mandatory information was not
   provided.

To ensure successful testing of samples, submit samples within seven (7) days of
harvesting.

If the sample number is not listed, it is likely still being processed. Try
again at a later date.  Also, be sure to refresh the webpage each time you
access.

CWD Sample Test Results


Recent Updates

 * Manitoba Government Adopts New Regulations to Improve Testing for CWD (July
   28, 2023)
 * Province Advises Additional Cases of Chronic Wasting Disease Detected In
   Manitoba (March 6, 2023)
   * CWD Confirmed Positive Cases Oct 2021 - Feb. 2023
 * Province Advises Of Additional Actions To Help Prevent Spread Of Chronic
   Wasting Disease (Dec. 15, 2022)
 * Province Advises Additional Cases Of Chronic Wasting Disease detection In
   Manitoba (Dec. 9, 2022)
 * Manitoba Government Invests Additional $350,000 to Help Prevent Spread of
   Chronic Wasting Disease (Aug 26, 2022)
 * Province Advises of Additional Actions to Help Prevent the Spread of Chronic
   Wasting Disease (June 28, 2022)
 * Chronic Wasting Disease Response Action Summary Report (May 2, 2022)
 * Chronic Wasting Disease Response Action Summary Report (Jan 15, 2022)
 * Chronic Wasting Disease Bulletin #4 (Dec 10, 2021)
 * Chronic Wasting Disease Bulletin #3 (Nov 26, 2021)
 * Chronic Wasting Disease Bulletin #2 (Nov 5, 2021)
 * Chronic Wasting Disease Discovered in Manitoba (Nov 1, 2021)



Helpful Links

 * Chronic Wasting Disease (Government of Canada)
 * CWD in Animals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
 * Chronic Wasting Disease (Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative)
 * Chronic Wasting Disease (United States Geological Survey)
 * Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance
 * Map: Distribution of CWD in North America (United States Geological Survey)
 * What Does a Deer With CWD Look Like? (National Deer Association)




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