The committee called for joint action by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Interior Department to immediately regulate the importation of all sources of these vectors, which could introduce exotic animal diseases such as heartwater. The committee also received an update on activities associated with surveillance of white-tailed deer infected with bovine tuberculosis. As part of a control program, in May 1998, the Michigan Agriculture Commission approved a ban on supplemental winter feeding of deer, a practice that brings together an artificially high number of deer for a prolonged period, which enhances the potential for disease spread. By implementing this program along with reducing the overall deer population in the area, it is thought that bovine TB can be eliminated from Michigan's wild deer. In Colorado, prevalence estimates within species have not differed over the past three years.
Survey data show the disease is a least five times more prevalent in deer than in elk.
Dr. Sam Holland, South Dakota State Veterinarian, summarized his state's experience with CWD in captive elk. After an initial diagnosis of CWD in December 1997, investigation revealed three infected and five exposed captive elk farms, all of which have been placed under quarantine for five years. Animals in one herd have become part of a research project. The animal was from a ranch innorth central Nebraska that contained 150 head of elk housed at three facilities. Traceback epidemiology has been carried out.