Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

sl8

(16,245 posts)
Sat Apr 29, 2023, 05:58 AM Apr 2023

COVID detected in a California mule deer, first wildlife case in state

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-04-27/first-covid-case-in-california-wildlife-mule-deer

COVID detected in a California mule deer, first wildlife case in state

BY GRACE TOOHEY STAFF WRITER
APRIL 27, 2023 11:40 AM PT

California wildlife officials have confirmed the state’s first case of COVID-19 in a wild animal, detected in a mule deer killed in 2021 in El Dorado County.

The coronavirus has been confirmed in pets and zoo animals, but the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said this is the first case of COVID-19 confirmed in “free-ranging California wildlife,” according to a news release from the agency.

The infected deer was killed by a hunter in 2021 and sampled at that time for chronic wasting disease, a type of neurodegenerative disorder that affects deer, elk and moose. That disease has never been found in the state’s deer or elk populations, but fish and wildlife department routinely monitors for it, the agency said.

After recent media reports about COVID-19 in free-ranging deer in Canada and other states, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife decided to test archived deer samples for the coronavirus, finding the positive case in the deer from El Dorado County.

[...]

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
COVID detected in a California mule deer, first wildlife case in state (Original Post) sl8 Apr 2023 OP
👇👇👇🦌 Goonch Apr 2023 #1
More vectors for mutations. Scrivener7 Apr 2023 #2
Mother Nature... 2naSalit Apr 2023 #3
Took them two years to find this out? Blues Heron Apr 2023 #4
I think Missouri Rebl2 Apr 2023 #5
Jumping species is slightly fucking scary Javaman Apr 2023 #6

2naSalit

(92,635 posts)
3. Mother Nature...
Sat Apr 29, 2023, 07:28 AM
Apr 2023

Is coming for us, and she's pissed.

We have no place to run from the mess we made. The Great Comeuppance is upon us.

Rebl2

(14,669 posts)
5. I think Missouri
Sat Apr 29, 2023, 09:59 AM
Apr 2023

started testing for Covid in deer last year or 2021. Don’t know results, but I would guess some tested positive.

Javaman

(63,094 posts)
6. Jumping species is slightly fucking scary
Sun Apr 30, 2023, 06:33 AM
Apr 2023

As others above have mentioned, uncontrolled vectors.

A zoonotic species jump is, to say the least very concerning.

This is one very nimble virus

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»California»COVID detected in a Calif...