Province to fund chronic wasting disease research

The provincial government is giving the University of Saskatchewan money to research chronic wasting disease (CWD). 

The Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC) will receive a research grant of up to $170-thousand. 

Environment Minister Ken Cheveldayoff says it will assist with developing policies and regulations to minimize the rate of transmission. 

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“This research gives us a better understanding of how the disease spreads and the effect it has on big game populations,” said Cheveldayoff. 

CCWHC works with the Ministry of Environment to provide a database and website where hunters can check the results of samples they have provided. 

Since 1997, 47,580 samples in wild deer and elk have been tested, 350 of which have been positive for CWD. 

CWD is a fatal brain disease affecting mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. 

There is no evidence CWD can be passed on to humans but the ministry advises meat from diseased animals should not be consumed.