State officials say a fourth case of chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in southern Michigan deer.
The Lansing State Journal reports
the Department of Natural Resources says the deer brought in last month by a hunter from DeWitt Township in Clinton County tested positive. Preliminary testing earlier had suggested the year-and-a-half-old buck may have had the fatal illness.
Three other infected free-ranging deer from Ingham County earlier tested positive.
DNR spokesman Chad Stewart says officials were hoping the disease was more isolated, but the result means "we're no closer to getting rid of this disease."
The DNR has designated a "core chronic wasting disease area" consisting of nine townships in Ingham, Clinton and Shiawassee counties. Hunters who kill deer in that area are required to have them tested.