Lawmakers Urge Plan to Control Wildlife Disease

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Agriculture Department and other federal agencies have until the end of the month to draft a plan to help states control a contagious, brain-wasting disease in deer and elk, House lawmakers said Thursday.

The deadly ailment, known as chronic wasting disease, has spread to eight Western and Midwestern states. Scientists do not know if it can infect humans who eat meat from diseased animals, but the World Health Organization has advised against eating venison or any part of an animal showing signs of the disease.

Wisconsin officials announced two weeks ago that the state would kill 15,000 white-tailed deer to stop the spread of the disease.

Rep. Scott McInnis (R-Colo.), chairman of a House resources subcommittee, urged the USDA and other federal agencies to quickly put together a plan to help states control chronic wasting disease.

If federal officials do not have a proposal ready by the end of May, Congress will step in, McInnis told a subcommittee hearing.

The ailment is part of a family of diseases that includes scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly called “mad cow” disease. It slowly destroys the brain and nervous system of infected deer and elk.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott McCallum urged the House panel to fund research into whether chronic wasting disease can be transmitted to humans, other wildlife or farm livestock. Since the first diseased animal was found Feb. 28 in Wisconsin, the state has spent about $600,000, he said.