In a press release this week, the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission confirmed that an elk herd located near the town of Pruitt, Arkansas tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease.
The infected elk displayed no symptoms of the disease at the time of death, but later samples from the animal’s lymph nodes and brain stem confirmed the presence of CWD. This confirmed case is the first of its kind in the state of Arkansas and has left researchers puzzled as to how exactly the disease spread into Arkansas.
State wildlife officials also stated that while they were aware the disease could move between elk and deer, the likelihood of this event was not properly addressed.
According to a 2006 CWD plan set forth by the AGFC, the first step that will be taken to contain and hopefully eliminate the disease would be to sample deer and elk within a five mile range from where the animal was taken. From there, the agency stated they “will be able to assess the prevalence of CWD in the wild herd and take steps to prevent its spread,” according to a post on their Facebook page.
The AGFC has a dedicated page on their website to informing residents and hunters about chronic wasting disease and in the wake of the events have since composed an informative video in an attempt to successfully address the situation and provide answers to common questions about the disease.
View the Video Below:
Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in an Arkansas ElkHere's a brief video that answers basic questions about the recent confirmation of a CWD-positive elk in Newton County, Arkansas.
Posted by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on Thursday, February 25, 2016
