The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has expanded surveillance measures for Chronic Wasting Disease to include Russell County, along with some other neighboring counties.
The surveillance measures are in effect for Russell, Casey, Wayne, and Pulaski counties, as well as Laurel, Lincoln, McCreary, Rockcastle, and Whitley counties.
The expanded surveillance comes as Chronic Wasting Disease was discovered in a deer harvested in Pulaski County this past September.
Chronic Wasting Disease is an always-fatal disease caused by an abnormal protein. CWD affects animals in the deer family, including white-tailed deer and elk.
As part of the new surveillance zone, whole carcasses or high-risk parts from deer harvested in the zone cannot leave the counties included in the surveillance zone.
The rehabilitation of deer is prohibited within the surveillance zone.
At this time, the disease is not known to be transmissible to humans, but the CDC recommends not consuming meat from deer that test positive for the disease.
