B.C. investigating possible case of deer disease in Okanagan

British Columbia is investigating a potential case of chronic wasting disease in a white-tailed deer harvested in the Okanagan region, specifically east of Enderby. Initial testing suggested the disease may be present, leading the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship to submit the sample to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for further analysis. If confirmed, this would represent the first detection of chronic wasting disease outside the management zone located in the Kootenay area. Currently, there are six confirmed cases of the disease in the province. Health Canada and the World Health Organization advise against consuming meat from infected animals, even though no human cases have been reported.

The province has implemented mandatory testing for harvested deer, moose, and elk in the Kootenay region, along with restrictions on carcass transportation. The B. C. Wildlife Federation emphasizes the importance of submitting samples from outside the Kootenay zone to better understand the disease's presence. In preparation for the test results, the provincial wildlife veterinarian has assembled a team to discuss potential next steps.