Chronic Wasting Disease remains ongoing threat to Missouri deer population

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.(KBSI) — Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal illness that affects deer, continues to present a concern for Missouri wildlife officials as they work to monitor and manage its spread.

According to Deb Hudman with the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Wildlife Health Program, the disease was detected in seven new counties across the state last season.

Last season, 3,759 deer were sampled in the southeast region, with 51 testing positive for CWD, marking a 1.4% prevalence rate.

“We are starting to see an expansion on the landscape, and that’s to be expected,” Hudman said. “We’ve had it for more than a decade, and we expect to see it in new places. But we’re very thankful that it’s still at a low apparent prevalence rate.”

CWD is caused by prions, abnormal, misfolded proteins that affect the brain and nervous system of infected animals. The disease is incurable and 100% fatal.

“It’s transmitted through direct contact. Deer are very social creatures, which makes it easier for the disease to spread,” Hudman explained.

For hunters, the department recommends getting deer tested, a free service offered by the state, especially when sharing with family.

“We say, have your deer tested. It gives peace of mind,” Hudman said. “Especially when you’re giving it to family.”

Some hunters may not have encountered visibly sick deer, leading them to believe CWD isn’t present in their area, but Hudman says.

“People say, ‘I’ve never seen a sick deer, so I don’t think it’s here,’ and that’s actually a good thing,” Hudman said. “It means we likely have a low prevalence. If we start seeing visibly sick deer, that indicates a much higher and more troubling spread.”

Hudman credited early and ongoing efforts for helping slow the spread of CWD in Missouri.

“We’re a bit of a victim of our success,” she said. “Because we’ve slowed the progression, some people question if we should continue. But we have a low prevalence because we’ve taken action early.”

Her team’s ultimate goal is to preserve the state’s deer population and ensure future generations can continue to enjoy Missouri’s wildlife.

“We’re trying to buy time with science,” Hudman said. “When a cure eventually comes, we want to have a healthy population in place. We don’t want to go back to the days when people didn’t see deer at all.”

Statewide, CWD was detected in 243 deer last season. Wildlife officials ask the public to take the disease seriously and support continued surveillance efforts.