United States: Manassas National Battlefield Park reported a single deer case of Chronic wasting disease or “zombie” deer disease, which damages nerve system functions.
Park service staff identified a single deceased deer among those taken during deer reduction that evaluated positive for chronic wasting disease at the western park area extending across 5,100 acres of Prince William County.
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The statement released by the park service mentioned, “Manassas National Battlefield Park and other national parks in the area reduce deer populations to protect and restore native plants, promote healthy and diverse forests, and preserve historic landscapes.”
“Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia national parks conducting deer reduction operations participate in CWD monitoring programs for wildlife health,” it added as insidenova.com reported.
Tests performed in all regional parks yielded only negative results during the entire period up until last year.
A recent biopsy revealed that Antietam National Battlefield, along with Monocacy National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in Maryland and West Virginia, became affected by CWD for the first time in 2024, according to the statement.
“There is currently no evidence that CWD can infect humans. However, it is recommended that tissues from CWD-infected animals not be eaten,” as the NPS added.
The authorities destroyed all test-positive deer venison after identifying chronic waste disease in the animals.
The natural parks request that visitors stay away from unhealthy or deceased wild animals.
Officials advise the public to maintain proper safety space from animals in the wild while avoiding direct contact with both dead and sick wild animals.
“Most animals in parks are healthy and thrive in their natural environment, but sometimes wildlife can get sick just like people,” the release mentioned.
Wild animals transmit disease-causing organisms, which transfer between themselves and human beings. The practice of eating meat from animals showing signs of CWD or confirmed with the infection should be avoided by all individuals, as insidenova.com reported.
The National Park Service sends its entire haul of venison obtained from deer reduction activities to local food banks in accordance with its public health protocol.
According to the release, the park service destroys all CWD-infected meat.
According to established guidelines, the service participates in CWD testing of collected deer, which aims to destroy all deer meat testing positive for CWD.