MACON COUNTY, MO. -- Two more captive white-tailed deer have tested positive for chronic wasting disease. That announcement comes from Missouri conservation officials.
The Missouri Agriculture Department said the deer were killed at Heartland Wildlife Ranches in Macon County. The company has been testing and killing off its herd since a deer tested positive in October.
The company also owns a captive hunting preserve in Linn County. A deer was diagnosed with chronic wasting disease at that preserve in February 2010.
Chronic wasting disease is a neurological disease afflicts deer, elk and moose. Although it is contagious among those animals, experts say there is no evidence that it poses a risk to humans, other livestock, pets or food safety.
The deer in Macon County were inspected as part of Missouri's chronic wasting disease testing and surveillance program.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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