About 50 people met with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to find out how to help stop the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease after two deer from an Adams County deer farm have tested positive.
The Game Commission is asking meat processors and taxidermists in a specific high risk area to help them in the testing they need to do, so they can find out if this disease is in the wild deer population.
The Game Commission issued an executive order for deer meat processors and taxidermists in how they are to handle harvested deer in what's known as the DMA or Disease Management Area.
The two deer in that area that tested positive, were at a New Oxford deer farm.
The Game Commission now wants the butchers to keep high risk deer parts for testing, things like the head, skull and backbone.
And the people are happy to help, because if the deer die off, so will their business.
Dave Henry, a deer meat processor said this is a big part of the business. "It's a big part of the livelihood of a lot of people. All of the people sitting in that meeting, they all depend on it. All the taxidermists and butchers."
Chronic Wasting Disease attacks the brain of infected antlered animals, causing death.
The Centers for Disease Control says that right now there's no evidence that shows humans or livestock can get the disease.
"You should not eat any deer that appear to be sick, but there's no proof of any transmission of CWD to any human consuming deer meat or any other like it at this point in time," said Carl Roe, Executive Director of the PA Game Commission.
In the end, it will be the responsibility of the hunter to take the deer where it needs to go for testing.
The Game Commission will hold a meeting for hunters for more information on Thursday at the York County Fairgrounds beginning at 7.
The Game Commission is asking meat processors and taxidermists in a specific high risk area to help them in the testing they need to do, so they can find out if this disease is in the wild deer population.
The Game Commission issued an executive order for deer meat processors and taxidermists in how they are to handle harvested deer in what's known as the DMA or Disease Management Area.
The two deer in that area that tested positive, were at a New Oxford deer farm.
The Game Commission now wants the butchers to keep high risk deer parts for testing, things like the head, skull and backbone.
And the people are happy to help, because if the deer die off, so will their business.
Dave Henry, a deer meat processor said this is a big part of the business. "It's a big part of the livelihood of a lot of people. All of the people sitting in that meeting, they all depend on it. All the taxidermists and butchers."
Chronic Wasting Disease attacks the brain of infected antlered animals, causing death.
The Centers for Disease Control says that right now there's no evidence that shows humans or livestock can get the disease.
"You should not eat any deer that appear to be sick, but there's no proof of any transmission of CWD to any human consuming deer meat or any other like it at this point in time," said Carl Roe, Executive Director of the PA Game Commission.
In the end, it will be the responsibility of the hunter to take the deer where it needs to go for testing.
The Game Commission will hold a meeting for hunters for more information on Thursday at the York County Fairgrounds beginning at 7.