The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has confirmed that a road-killed 4.5-year-old female white-tailed deer in Holmes County sampled during routine surveillance activities has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD).
This is the first known case of CWD in Florida, a contagious disease of the brain and central nervous system that is fatal to deer. The first case of CWD in North America was discovered in mule deer in Colorado in 1967. Mississippi and Lauderdale County in Northwest Alabama were already CWD positive. Florida is the most recent of 31 states to detect the disease. It has also been confirmed in four Canadian provinces, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and South Korea.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announced on Thursday that this state will be increasing chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling surveillance efforts in southeast Alabama after the Florida announcement.
ADCNR’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division will deploy additional self-service, drop-off CWD sampling freezer locations throughout southeast Alabama and increase CWD surveillance efforts, as outlined in Alabama’s CWD Surveillance and Response Plan.
“With the continued support of Governor [Ron] DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, and hunters across the state, we have taken significant steps to prevent the spread of CWD,” said FWC Executive Director Roger Young. “Working with FDACS and our other partners, I’m hopeful that our combined efforts will limit the effects this will have on Florida’s deer population and preserve our exceptional hunting opportunities for future generations statewide.”
“We take very seriously our responsibility to prevent, detect, and respond to animal health issues in Florida – all to safeguard our agriculture industry and our world-renowned wildlife and natural resources,” said FDACS Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “Ensuring the health of Florida’s deer population is a team effort, and we will continue to work diligently with our state and federal partners to respond.”
Among deer, CWD is a progressive, fatal disease that commonly results in altered behavior due to microscopic changes in the brain of affected animals. An animal may carry the disease for years without outward indication. In later stages of the disease, it is a wasting disease where the animal’s weight drops. Symptoms include listlessness, lowering of the head, weight loss, repetitive walking in set patterns, and a lack of responsiveness.
CWD is similar to Mad Cow Disease in cattle and scrapie in deer. It is caused by the ingestion of prions that build up in the brain over the animal’s life rather than from some sort of living infectious disease vector like a bacteria, protozoa, worm, or virus.
There is no scientific evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans or livestock under natural conditions. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend consuming meat from animals that test positive for CWD or from any sick animal.
For more information about CWD sampling and a map of self-service, drop-off CWD sampling locations statewide, visit the Outdoor Alabama website.
During deer season, hunters throughout the state are encouraged to provide deer heads for CWD sampling. The public is also encouraged to report roadkill deer and deer displaying unusual behavior to their local WFF District Office.
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