Chronic wasting disease: A jurisdictional scan of advice for hunters and cervid meat-processors in CWD affected areas
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion disease affecting wild and farmed cervids such as deer, elk, moose, and reindeer, has increased significantly in some areas of North America over the past two decades. Many jurisdictions have now developed wildlife management strategies for controlling the spread and advice on minimizing human exposures to infected wild game. While there have been no known cases of CWD causing prion disease in humans, CWD has the potential to infect humans, warranting caution in handling and consumption of CWD-infected meat. This paper presents the findings of a jurisdictional scan of North America for advice on handling and processing wild cervid meat in jurisdictions affected by CWD. We reviewed publicly available state, provincial, territorial, and federal agency guidance on identifying sick animals, precautions during the processing of cervid meat, and best practices for cleaning and disinfection of meat processing tools and surfaces. Advice was found to vary widely across jurisdictions in the level of detail and in the application of some practices.
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