AP Wire | 01/16/2006 | Seven more cases of chronic wasting disease are found

AP Wire | 01/16/2006 | Seven more cases of chronic wasting disease are found: "Seven more cases of chronic wasting disease are found
Associated Press

PIERRE, S.D. - Four deer and three elk tested positive for chronic wasting disease from 2,252 samples tested since July 1 last year, according to the state Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

Nearly 3,000 samples have been collected, but not all have been tested yet. Most of the samples were submitted by hunters in Fall River, Custer and eastern Pennington counties in the southwestern part of the state.

Chronic wasting disease is an always fatal disease that attacks the brain of deer and elk.

The GF&P has found cases in 28 free-ranging deer and 12 elk from 12,032 samples tested since 1997. Thirteen of the animals came from Wind Cave National Park, the GF&P said.

The latest confirmed cases were in three mule deer and an elk from Fall River County, an elk from Pennington County, a white-tailed deer from Custer County, and an elk from Wind Cave National Park."