AGFC begins new statewide search for CWD

AGFC begins new statewide search for CWD

LITTLE ROCK – With 56 confirmed cases of chronic wasting disease found in northern Arkansas so far, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is widening its search to determine if it is in other parts of the state.

“Our first phase of CWD surveillance focused on determining disease prevalence rate,” said Cory Gray, AGFC deer program coordinator. “Once all samples have been received, we should be able to calculate prevalence rate for our survey area.” The final results from the AGFC’s original testing phase should be complete late this week, but biologists have already confirmed a larger instance of CWD than anticipated.

The second phase of CWD surveillance will be to determine how far the disease has travelled in the state. AGFC will take samples from any sick or dead deer reported throughout the state. A primary focus will be on road-killed animals.

“There’s no need to sacrifice possibly healthy animals for this phase, Samples taken from road kills have a greater chance of testing positive than random samples from healthy animals,” Gray said. “The presence of CWD can only be determined within a day or two of the animal’s death, so we need the public to call in and report any road-killed deer as soon as they see it.”

The AGFC is holding weekly public meetings at Carroll Cooperative, 511 E. Court St. in Jasper.