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(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)

Chronic wasting disease is 100% fatal for deer, elk, moose and caribou and for the first time it's been found in British Columbia.

"This has been one of our greatest fears for years. It wasn't a matter of if, it was a matter of when,” Jesse Zeman, executive director of the BC Wildlife Federation, said in a press release issued today, Feb. 1.

“Without adequate funding and a measurable response, BC will limp this along and allow it to spread throughout the province." 

The wildlife federation said the disease has been found in two deer in the Kootenay region south of Cranbrook.

Theres no known treatment for the disease, although it is not known to affect humans or livestock.

“We have been watching (the disease) spread province to province, state to state for at least 20 years, so this is terrible news for British Columbians,” Zeman said. “Chronic wasting disease is devastating to cervid populations. Continued vigilance and testing are key to organizing preventative measures.” 

The disease is caused by infectious agents called prions. Prions effect the central nervous system and eventually cause death in the brain.

Prions may also be transferred from the infected deer into water or on to plants through its saliva, urine and faeces.

The disease is highly transferrable and can move across regions with the transport of carcasses or contaminated hay.

Before the disease was found in BC, the closest existing outbreaks were in Alberta, Montana and Idaho.

“We have failed our wildlife populations once again by underfunding the resources needed to manage them for the past 50 years,” Steve Hamilton, wildlife federation advocacy coordinator, said. 

“Politicians should take this as a reminder that their actions and policies matter and we will be calling for much, much better for our wildlife in the upcoming elections." 

The federation encourages hunters to submit the head of the animal for chronic wasting disease testing after killing a deer anywhere in BC.

"Every day that passes it becomes more and more apparent that maintaining healthy fish and wildlife populations in British Columbia is not important to the Government of Canada,” Zeman said. “At this stage, we're all in this together."

In response to the disease being detected in neighbouring jurisdictions, the provincial government has established a surveillance and response plan to lessen the risk of the disease spreading in BC.

The provincial wildlife veterinarian will lead a response with support from the chronic wasting disease advisory committee and regional working groups, including First Nations, stakeholders and experts on chronic wasting disease, according to a Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship media release.

An early response will take place within a ten kilometre radius of Cranbrook and will focus on confirming details of the situation and minimizing disease transmission, the ministry said.

"People in the initial response area should remain attentive for further directions, including deer feeding in the area and the handling of carcasses," the release read.

More information about the disease can be found on the BC Wildlife Federation website here and on this provincial government web page here.

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