Chronic Wasting
Disease (CWD) is a fatal neurological disease of deer, elk, and moose. CWD was
first diagnosed in Virginia in 2009 and has been detected in Frederick, Shenandoah,
Clark, Fauquier, and Culpeper counties.
Frederick County, over
the last ten years, has had 72 cases of CWD. Shenandoah has had 10, and all
other locations have each reported one case.
Of the cases detected – hunter have killed 75 deer, cars 6, and 4 as a result of suspected illness.
CWD is caused by abnormal infectious proteins
called prions. Prions can pass between deer through saliva, feces, urine, and
through water or soil contaminated with prions. CWD is not infectious to
humans.
Older male deer are more likely to carry the
disease.
The best method for prevention is to stay
informed through DGIF and to contact them if you know of any deer that is
contaminated.
The potential impacts of CWD to the Virginia white-tailed deer population are a serious concern, though the disease has not been shown to pose a health risk to humans or domestic animals. DGIF is responsible for CWD surveillance and management in Virginia. The Department relies on assistance from hunters, taxidermists, processors, other agencies, and diverse constituent groups to implement surveillance.
For more information, please follow this link – https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd/.