Michigan Confirms 1st Case Of Chronic Wasting In Wild Deer

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Wildlife officials have confirmed Michigan's first case of chronic wasting disease in a wild deer and first of any cases in several years.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday that tests found the contagious and fatal disease that attacks the brains of infected deer and elk in a white-tailed female deer in Ingham County's Meridian Township. Chronic wasting disease hasn't appeared in Michigan since one infected white-tailed deer was detected in 2008 at a Kent County breeding farm.

Officials say they will require mandatory testing of deer killed in the surrounding area during hunting season and implement a deer and elk feeding and hunting ban in Ingham, Shiawassee and Clinton counties.

"It's a disease that causes neurologic damage and eats away at the neurologic system — the brain and spinal cord — and causes a degeneration or weakening of the animal over time," explained state veterinarian Dr. James Avrill, "and that leads to death."

Avrill said the disease impacts only the Cervidae animals — including deer elk and moose — not humans or any other animals.

The DNR says the disease has been detected in deer, elk or moose in 23 states.

TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.