MEMPHIS, MO-  The Missouri Department of Conservation will be hosting a pair of informational meetings in Northeast Missouri this week.  Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, was detected in both Clark and Scotland Counties last fall.  As a result, the Department is holding a pair of meetings to inform the public about steps to prevent the spread of the disease.  The first meeting is Monday night at 6 pm at the Memphis VFW, and the second on Tuesday night at 6 pm at the CARE building in Kahoka. 

That's Nathan Hubbard, Ecological Health Specialist, with the MDC.  The department has identified three core areas:  one in Clark County and two in Scotland County, that are centered on where the positive deer were harvested.  These core areas will be a key piece in the management strategy.

Hubbard said it is important to aggressively manage the presence of the disease once identified in an area to prevent its spread to other areas.

In an effort to contain the disease, the department has set a goal of additional deer harvest during the upcoming deer seasons in the identified core areas by landowners.

Hubbard will be the lead presenter at the meetings in Memphis on Monday at 6 pm and Kahoka on Tuesday at 6 pm.  For more information, go to MDC.mo.gov or call Hubbard at 660-785-2420 ext 6513.