Tests Find No New CWD Cases On Minnesota Deer Farms

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The latest tests have turned up no new cases of chronic
wasting disease on Minnesota deer farms.

The Board of Animal Health said Tuesday that tests came back negative on five
deer that were sent to other farms from an infected herd in Merrifield in Crow
Wing County.

Because of the results, quarantines were lifted on one farm near Brainerd and
another near Mountain Iron. The infected farm remains quarantined, as does a
farm near Dassel and one near Freeport.

Dr. Paul Anderson, assistant director at the Board of Animal Health, says
officials still don't know how the original herd in Merrifield became infected,
but the negative test results are good news.

Chronic wasting disease is fatal to deer and elk but is not known to infect
humans.