ATLANTA — Georgia wildlife officials are sending out a warning after a deer tested positive for what is known as “zombie deer disease.”
It’s actual name is Chronic Wasting Disease and is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk, and moose.
There are no treatments for the disease and it always results in the death of the infected animal.
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Officials with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division said a white-tail deer in Lanier County tested positive for the disease, the first one in Georgia.
“I want to assure our hunters that deer hunting will continue to thrive in Georgia, despite this current discovery,” said Walter Rabon, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. “Working together with our hunters and all Georgians, we will manage CWD and maintain healthy deer herds.”
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DNR had put a warning out last year when deer in Florida were found to have the disease and could possible end up in Georgia.
The department said it has prepared a response plan for to help confine the disease and is rolling it out across Lanier and Berrien counties.
About the disease:
Chronic Wasting Disease was first discovered in 1967 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Deer infected with it often look completely normal.
Over time, symptoms such as dramatic weight loss, poor body condition, subtle head tremors, and droopy head and ears may occur.
In the late stages, it is not uncommon for the animal to have excessive drooling.
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So far, positive cases of the disease have been found in 36 states.
If you observe a deer with any of these symptoms, please contact your local WRD Game Management Office.
CWD has not yet been known to be transmissible to humans, but the Centers for Disease Control says known CWD-positive deer should not be consumed.
You can get more information on what Georgia is doing to fight the spread at https://georgiawildlife.com/cwd.
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