Maryland survey reports 62 CWD-positive deer in 2024

An annual survey from the Maryland Division of Pure Sources revealed that 62 white-tailed deer sampled in 2024 examined optimistic for power losing illness (CWD).

The survey additionally discovered that every one however one of many optimistic samples for the deadly prion illness got here from throughout the state’s CWD administration space, which incorporates Allegany (34 optimistic pattern), Baltimore (0), Carroll (0), Frederick (7), Montgomery (3), and Washington (17) counties. CWD was additionally detected in Howard County for the primary time, leading to an growth of the CWD administration space.

CWD was first confirmed in Maryland in 2011, and the brand new findings carry the state’s whole of confirmed instances to 285.

CWD continues to unfold

“Sadly, power losing illness continues to unfold nationally, regionally, and throughout the state of Maryland,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Karina Stonesifer mentioned in a division press launch. “Because the illness spreads inside Maryland, we’ll proceed to watch it carefully to offer the general public with dependable data and handle the influence on our deer herd.”

CWD results cervids akin to deer, elk, and moose, spreading by cervid-to-cervid contact and environmental contamination. A sluggish and progressive illness brought on by misfolded prions, it impacts animals’ brains and is in the end deadly.

Maryland is one in every of 36 states the place CWD has been documented. Though no human instances of CWD have been reported, well being officers warn the general public to not eat the meat of contaminated animals. CWD administration areas assist preserve hunters knowledgeable, regulate how deer carcasses are transported, and assist sluggish the unfold of the illness.