Anthrax

CWD ( Chronic Wasting Disease )

Commonly infected wildlife

Cervids

Is this animal infected?

•	CWD is a slowly progressing disease
•	Animals can appear healthy for many years before they show symptoms:
	- Lack of coordination & paralysis
	- Excess salivation, difficulty swallowing, unusual behaviour & weight loss

	Photo: Wisconsin Department Of Natural Resources

Can I get it?

•	No evidence at the present time that people can get CWD

How bad can it get?

As of 2011, CWD has not been found to infect people

Protect myself and others

•	Animals that have CWD should not be eaten
•	Avoid eating brain and spinal cord from any cervid that has not been tested for CWD
•	CWD has been found in eastern Alberta and Saskatchewan, but not in British Columbia, Manitoba or the Yukon
•	All emaciated deer, moose, elk and caribou should be tested for CWD
	- Contact the closest local wildlife agency

Symptoms in people

•	CWD is not known to infect people

Safe for pets?

•

Animals that have CWD should not be fed to pets

What causes it?

•	An abnormal protein called a prion
•	Other prion diseases include:
	- BSE (or Mad Cow Disease) in cattle
	- CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease) in people
	- Scrapie in sheep