21-04-2025
More than 240 cases of chronic wasting disease found in Missouri deer
ST. LOUIS – More than 240 new cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) have been confirmed in deer across 35 counties in Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).
White-tailed deer and other members of the deer family suffer from CWD, also known as Zombie Deer Disease, a fatal neurological illness. According to the MDC, the disease has caused a significant decline in deer populations in other states.
The positive CWD cases found across the state stem from testing more than 36,000 deer during the past hunting season and post-season removal efforts, with most cases being deer submitted by hunters during the 2024–25 deer-hunting season.
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The new cases bring the total of CWD cases to 815 positive cases over 46 counties since the first case was found in early 2012, according to MDC. Although the positive tests have recently appeared, MDC Wildlife Health Program Supervisor Deb Hudman noted that management efforts have kept infection rates low.
'Less than 1% of samples tested positive for CWD,' said Hudman.
MDC notes that hunters and landowners are crucial in the fight against CWD and can help prevent the spread of the disease by continuing to deer hunt, participating in CWD sampling, following regulations designed to slow CWD spread, and cooperating with targeted removal efforts.
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