HUNTER-KILLED ELK TEST NEGATIVE FOR CWD
Samples taken from the 35 hunter-killed elk during the state's 2007 hunting season have all tested negative for chronic wasting disease (CWD), according to Dr. Walt Cottrell, the Pennsylvania Game Commission's wildlife veterinarian. Cottrell noted that the Game Commission still is awaiting the results of the 3,800 hunter-killed deer samples collected during the 2007 rifle deer season.
WATERFOWL TESTS NEGATIVE FOR HIGH-PATH STRAIN OF AI
Dr. Walter Cottrell, Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife veterinarian, today reported that test results from more than 400 samples taken from various species of ducks from across the state show that the population is free of the Asian strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (Asian HPH5N1).
Between June of 2007 and January of 2008, Game Commission personnel took samples from 253 dabbling, or puddle, ducks and 156 diving ducks.
Instead of that virus, they found low levels of the low pathogen avian influenza virus (North American LPAI). This virus normally is present in waterfowl and poses no threat to either the birds or humans that handle or consume them.
For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website:
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=173554
