R58-18-12. CWD Surveillance and Investigation

  (1) The owner, veterinarian, or inspector of any elk which is suspected or confirmed to be affected with CWD in Utah is required to report that finding to the State Veterinarian immediately upon finding.

  (2) The State Veterinarian will promptly investigate all animals reported as CWD-exposed, CWD-suspect, or CWD-positive animals, including but not limited to:

  (a) Conduct an epidemiologic investigation of CWD-positive, CWD-exposed, and CWD-suspect herds that includes the designation of suspect and exposed animals and that identifies animals to be traced;

  (b) Conduct tracebacks of CWD-positive animals and traceouts of CWD-exposed animals and report any out-of-State traces to the appropriate State promptly after receipt of notification of a CWD-positive animal; and

  (c) Conduct tracebacks based on slaughter or other sampling promptly after receipt of notification of a CWD-positive animal at slaughter.

  (d) With the approval of the Commissioner of Agriculture, the State Veterinarian will place the facility under quarantine and any trace-back or trace-forward facility as needed.

  (e) Any elk over 12 months of age that dies or is otherwise slaughtered or destroyed from a CWD-positive, CWD-exposed, and CWD-suspect herd shall have the brain stem (obex portion of the medulla) and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes collected for testing for CWD by an official test.

  (i) The samples shall be collected by an accredited veterinarian, or an approved laboratory, person trained and approved by the State Veterinarian.

  (ii) Carcasses and tissues from these animals will be either secured by a state or federally inspected slaughter establishment until testing is completed.

  (iii) Carcasses and tissues from animals testing positive must be disposed of by incineration or other means approved by the State Veterinarian.

  (3) Each elk farm, licensed in Utah, shall be required to submit the brain stem (obex portion of the medulla) and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes of any elk over 12 months of age that dies or is otherwise slaughtered or destroyed, for testing for CWD by an official test. The samples shall be collected by an accredited veterinarian, an approved laboratory, or person trained and approved by the State Veterinarian. Farms owning 20 or more elk maybe allowed up to a 10% error rate on samples per year; farms owning less than 20 elk will not have an acceptable error rate.

  (4) Each hunting park, licensed in Utah, shall be required to submit the brain stem (obex portion of the medulla) and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes of all elk over 12 months of age that die, or that are otherwise harvested, slaughtered, killed, or destroyed, for testing for CWD with an official test. The samples shall be collected by an accredited veterinarian, approved laboratory, or person trained and approved by the State Veterinarian. Hunting parks maybe allowed up to a 10% error rate on samples per year with consideration taken when elk are shot in an area of the elk that causes an unacceptable sample.

  (5) The CWD surveillance samples from elk residing on licensed elk farms and elk hunting parks shall be collected and preserved in formalin within 48 hours following the death of the animal, and submitted within 7 days to a laboratory approved by the State Veterinarian. Training of approved personnel shall include collection, storing, handling, shipping, and identification of specimens for submission.

  (6) Laboratory fees and expenses incurred for collection and shipping of samples shall be the responsibility of the participating elk farm or hunting park.

  (7) The designation and disposition of CWD exposed, positive, or suspect animals or herds in Utah shall be determined by the State Veterinarian.