News Releases

Media Bulletin - Manitoba

November 5, 2021

Chronic Wasting Disease Bulletin #2



Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development advises the provincial response continues following the discovery of the first positive confirmation of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the province. 
 
As announced earlier this week, a temporary hunting ban has been implemented to reduce the potential for spread of CWD-positive cases from the immediate area where the CWD-positive case was found. Hunting of all cervids (e.g. deer, elk and moose) is temporarily prohibited for all resource users in a control area around the location in western Manitoba near Lake of the Prairies. 
 
The province has launched a population survey of deer, elk and moose populations in the immediate area of the CWD-positive case. These survey results will help determine and assess the effectiveness of management actions. An aerial survey will include the entire area closed to cervid hunting as well as adjacent areas including small portions of Game Hunting Areas 18C and 23A.
 
Further, the province will be initiating additional sampling from animals in the control area in order to determine the prevalence of the disease. This is an important part of the efforts to respond and make decisions based on science and accurate data.
 
Hunters and harvesters also have an important role to play in the containment of this deadly disease. Manitoba currently has a mandatory submission zone for all licensed hunter-harvested cervids (see page 60 of the hunting guide). Hunters are required to submit samples from animals harvested within this zone and drop-off locations can be found all over the province.
   
Regular communication and updated information is important for CWD awareness, education and public action. More information including fact sheets and answers to frequently asked questions will be available online and updated regularly. This will include details on where and how to submit a sample, submission information, hunter test results and most recent updates. The site will evolve and provide Manitobans with easily accessible, up-to-date information. The site can be found at www.manitoba.ca/cwd.
 
CWD is a fatal disease that affects members of the deer family, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose and caribou. Animals infected with CWD may appear healthy until the later stages of the disease and while CWD is not known as a human health risk, meat from a CWD-infected animal is not recommended for consumption. In order to protect their health, hunters active in areas where CWD has been detected should have their harvested animal tested, practise safe carcass-handling protocols and avoid consumption of any animal that has tested positive for CWD.
 
For more information, visit www.manitoba.ca/cwd. Hunters with concerns or questions about an animal that has been harvested can contact the province by email at cwd@gov.mb.ca or by calling 204-638-4570.
 
Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.
 
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