MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) — When a chronic wasting disease (CWD) outbreak in a herd of captive deer in Beltrami County was discovered earlier this year, it was the result of investigators tracing a connection to potentially infected animals moved there from a Winona County farm.
That’s often the case with CWD outbreaks — investigators tracing the movement of infected animals after the fact.
Chronic wasting disease is an always fatal neurodegenerative disease spread by malformed proteins, called prions, which are spread by infected animals.
As Minnesota officials work to contain the spread of CWD in deer, researchers are developing new technology that can help track the disease sooner, Minnesota Public Radio news reported.
Under current regulations, the state Board of Animal Health requires testing of captive animals that die or are…
