N.M. Officials Baffled By First Case of CWD

June 20, 2002
By Lou Kilzer, News Staff Writer

New Mexico officials have reported the state's first case of chronic wasting disease in free-ranging deer, prompting emergency regulations that prohibit the importation of deer and elk into the state.

"The case will shake the world's current understanding of chronic wasting disease," declared a press release by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

What has officials baffled is how the contagious disease suddenly appeared hundreds of miles from southern Colorado -- the furthest south the disease had previously been detected. And that case was in a captive elk herd, not in a free-ranging animal.

"It's kind of bizarre," said Luis Rios of the New Mexico Division of Wildlife.

Rios said the state would launch an extensive effort to test animals in the White Sands area, where the diseased animal was found, and beyond.

He said he had no theories on how the disease got to White Sands. The state does have captive elk ranches, which have been implicated in Colorado and elsewhere in spreading the disease. None, however, are near White Sands.

But as a precaution, no deer or elk from anywhere in the world will be allowed to be imported into New Mexico.

"The state is closed," Rios said.

Once thought to be well-contained in a small area of northeast Colorado and southern Wyoming, the disease now has been detected in the wild in Nebraska, Wisconsin, South Dakota the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

Specimens of the White Sands deer were sent to Wyoming CWD researcher Beth Williams, who informed New Mexico officials of the unwelcome results Monday.

Williams said there is a possibility the disease might have occurred spontaneously, but said she doubted that.

"It's very surprising," Williams said. "It's going to be quite a while before we know what's going on."

CWD is one of a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). Always fatal, TSEs are caused by a mutant protein called a prion that leaves microscopic holes in its victims' brains.

There are no proven cases of CWD transmission to humans, although a TSE in cattle -- commonly known as "mad cow" disease -- has infected at least 130 people through meals eaten in Europe.

New Mexico has done random testing of animals for the past two or three years, Rios said.

Its plan to test 140 animals this fiscal year will now be expanded to a much larger population.

"We want to isolate it and prevent its spread," said New Mexico Game and Fish Department Director Larry Bell.

"This case underscores the importance of surveillance," said Todd Malmsbury, spokesman for the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
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