JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri officials say two more captive white-tailed deer have tested positive for a fatal illness called chronic wasting disease.
The state Department of Conservation says the positive tests bring to five the number of wild deer that have tested positive for the syndrome in Missouri.
The Columbia Missourian (http://bit.ly/GLCgoA) reported that all five infected wild white-tailed deer were killed within two miles of the Heartland Wildlife Ranch in northwestern Macon County. Infected captive deer were previously identified at the Macon County ranch, which is killing off and testing its herd.
The neurological disease afflicts deer, elk and moose. It's contagious among those animals, but experts say there's no evidence that it poses a risk to humans, other livestock, pets or food safety.