Missouri CWD Cases Found in Free-Ranging Deer Through May 22, 2024

 CWD Cases Found in Free-Ranging Deer Through May 22, 2024

This table shows the total number of CWD cases found in Missouri free-ranging deer by county through May 22, 2024. Positives for the current surveillance season are not included in this table.

Total CWD-positives (free-ranging deer) by County (through 5/22/2024)

County Region Year of 1st Positive Pre-2023 Positives 2023 Positives Total Positives

Adair NE 2014-2015 26 3 29

Barry SW 2021-2022 5 1 6

Barton SW 2022-2023 9 15 24

Carroll NW 2022-2023 1 2 3

Cedar SW 2017-2018 4 0 4

Chariton NW 2023-2024 0 4 4

Christian SW 2021-2022 2 0 2

Clark NE 2023-2024 0 1 1

Cole CEN 2014-2015 1 0 1

Crawford STL 2018-2019 3 3 6

Dallas SW 2022-2023 1 4 5 Franklin STL 2015-2016 52 23 75

Gasconade CEN 2022-2023 1 0 1

Grundy NW 2023-2024 0 1 1

Hickory SW 2022-2023 1 0 1

Howell OZ 2021-2022 1 0 1

Jasper SW 2023-2024 0 1 1

Jefferson STL 2016-2017 28 15 43

Linn NW 2015-2016 52 9 61

Livingston NW 2022-2023 1 0 1

Macon NE 2011-2012 70 7 77

Maries CEN 2023-2024 0 1 1

Mercer NW 2018-2019 1 0 1

Oregon OZ 2018-2019 16 4 20

Osage CEN 2023-2024 0 3 3

Perry SE 2017-2018 9 3 12

Polk SW 2017-2018 8 2 10

Pulaski OZ 2020-2021 2 1 3

Putnam NE 2020-2021 6 3 9

Randolph NE 2023-2024 0 4 4

Ray NW 2022-2023 1 0 1

Scotland NE 2023-2024 0 3 3

St. Clair KC 2016-2017 11 0 11

St. Francois SE 2022-2023 1 0 1

Ste. Genevieve SE 2017-2018 71 31 102

Stone SW 2018-2019 14 7 21

Sullivan NE 2022-2023 3 2 5

Taney SW 2018-2019 8 9 17

Washington STL 2021-2022 1 0 1

Total (39) 8 new 410 162 572

https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/chronic-wasting-disease/cwd-surveillance

MDC reports 162 new cases of CWD for 2023 surveillance year

By Joe Jerek

Published Date 04/11/2024

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that it sampled and tested more than 37,000 deer for chronic wasting disease (CWD) during the 2023 CWD surveillance year between July 2023 and April 2024. Of the more than 37,000 deer sampled, 162 tested positive for CWD.

CWD is a 100% fatal disease in white-tailed deer and other members of the deer family. The disease has been attributed to significant deer population declines in other states and threatens Missouri’s deer population, hunting culture, and economy. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.

Those 162 deer bring the total number of CWD cases found in the state to 572 since the first case in wild deer was confirmed by MDC in early 2012. Including recent sampling efforts, more than 280,000 tissue samples from wild deer have been collected for CWD testing in Missouri since MDC began CWD surveillance in 2002.

Nearly 20,700 of the 37,000-plus deer tested this past CWD surveillance year were sampled as part of MDC mandatory CWD sampling efforts in select counties during the opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season, Nov. 11 and 12. Most of the remaining samples resulted from MDC’s voluntary sampling efforts conducted throughout the deer season in partnership with taxidermists and meat processors and through freezer head-drop locations throughout the state.

Of the more than 37,000 samples, about 4,600 were collected during MDC’s targeted removal efforts. MDC staff and staff from USDA Wildlife Services conducted targeted removal efforts in cooperation with landowners on a voluntary basis after the close of regular deer season in localized areas near where CWD has been found. Through targeted removal, 51 CWD-positive deer were removed to help slow the spread of the disease.

“The goal of targeted removal is to remove CWD-positive deer from the landscape and reduce deer density in these localized areas to slow the spread of the disease and protect Missouri’s deer herd,” explained MDC Wildlife Health Program Supervisor Deb Hudman. “Targeted removal is a proven method to slow the spread of CWD, and Missouri is one of several states that uses it to manage the disease.”

Of the deer tested during the 2023 surveillance year, MDC found CWD-positive deer in 27 counties: Adair (3), Barry (1), Barton (15), Carroll (2), Chariton (4), Clark (1), Crawford (3), Dallas (4), Franklin (23), Grundy (1), Jasper (1), Jefferson (15), Linn (9), Macon (7), Maries (1), Oregon (4), Osage (3), Perry (3), Polk (2), Pulaski (1), Putnam (3), Randolph (4), Scotland (3), Ste. Genevieve (31), Stone (7), Sullivan (2), and Taney (9).

"This past year, we found CWD in a number of new counties,” Hudman said. “Cases were detected for the first time in Chariton, Clark, Grundy, Jasper, Maries, Osage, Randolph, and Scotland counties.”

She added that the goal of CWD management in Missouri is to slow the spread while researchers work to develop a cure and additional management tools, and to keep the percentage of infected deer low.

Although the number of CWD-positive counties increased this past year, Hudman noted that CWD management efforts have kept infection rates low. Less than one percent of tissue samples from hunter-harvested deer tested positive for CWD this past year.

“That is good news,” Hudman said. “It is a testament to our ability to find the disease early in new areas and apply management actions to slow its spread.”

Although CWD infection rates are low in Missouri, Hudman noted that this is exactly when aggressive management efforts must be implemented. “By the time CWD infection rates get high in a deer population, there is little that can be done to slow its spread. The time to act is now,” she said.

She added that if MDC does not continue to act aggressively to slow the spread of the disease through management efforts such as targeted removal, CWD will spread faster and could have significant effects on the state’s deer population, hunting culture, and economy.

“There are areas of the country where over half of hunter-harvested adult bucks test positive for CWD,” Hudman explained. “We must do everything we can to not let this happen in Missouri, and we need the help of hunters and landowners in this critically important fight.”

Hunters and landowners are critical partners in the fight against CWD and can assist MDC by continuing to deer hunt, by participating in CWD sampling, by following regulations designed to slow CWD spread, and by cooperating with targeted removal efforts. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.

https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-reports-162-new-cases-cwd-2023-surveillance-year

October 20, 2011

Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Captive Deer

The Missouri departments of Agriculture, Conservation and Health and Senior Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that a captive white-tailed deer in Macon County, Missouri has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). CWD is a neurological disease found in deer, elk and moose.

"We have a plan in place and our team is actively working to ensure that this situation is addressed quickly and effectively," said State Veterinarian Dr. Linda Hickam. "Fortunately there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk to humans, non cervid livestock, household pets or food safety."

The animal that tested positive for CWD was a captive white-tailed deer inspected as part of the State's CWD surveillance and testing program. Preliminary tests were conducted by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

Upon receiving the confirmed CWD positive, Missouri's departments of Agriculture, Conservation and Health and Senior Services initiated their CWD Contingency Plan. The plan was developed in 2002 by the Cervid Health Committee, a task force comprised of veterinarians, animal health officers and conservation officers from USDA, MDA, MDC and DHSS working together to mitigate challenges associated with CWD.

In February 2010 a case of CWD was confirmed in Linn County on a captive hunting preserve operated by the same entity, Heartland Wildlife Ranches, LLC. The Linn County facility was depopulated and no further infection was identified at that facility. The current case was identified through increased surveillance required by the management plan implemented from the previous CWD incident.

CWD is transmitted by live animal to animal contact or soil to animal contact. The disease was first recognized in 1967 in captive mule deer in the Colorado Division of Wildlife captive wildlife research facility in Fort Collins, Colorado. CWD has been documented in deer and/or elk in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the Canadian Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. There has been no evidence that the disease can be transmitted to humans.

"Missouri's proactive steps to put a testing protocol in place and create a contingency plan years ago is proving beneficial. We are in a solid position to follow pre-established steps to ensure Missouri's valuable whitetail deer resource remains healthy and strong," said Jason Sumners Missouri's Deer Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation.

For more information regarding CWD, please contact Missouri's State Veterinarian Dr. Linda Hickam at (573) 751-3377.

https://agriculture.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/6e994f61-e64c-41ec-a940-87940ca972ac

Dept. of Ag Notified of Two Positive Tests for CWD at Macon County Facility

March 07, 2012

Dept. of Ag Notified of Two Positive Tests for CWD at Macon County Facility

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has received two additional positive test results for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer harvested at a captive wildlife facility in Macon County. Depopulation is continuing at the facility, operated by Heartland Wildlife Ranches, LLC, with approximately 320 animals harvested and tested since the facility's first positive result was found in October 2011.

MDA has received negative test results for approximately 280 animals, with results pending from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory for the roughly 40 remaining samples. The current harvest and testing protocol requires the facility to remain under its current quarantine until all animals have been harvested and tested for CWD, which is a neurological disease found in deer, elk and moose. There is no evidence CWD can be transmitted to humans or non-cervid animals, such as livestock and household pets.

For more information on CWD visit the Department online at http://www.mda.mo.gov.

https://agriculture.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/3201275b-9cb5-4361-8956-db4f17909b2f/dept-of-ag-notified-of-two-positive-tests-for-cwd-at-macon-county-facility

“CWD has also been found in 11 captive deer in Macon and Linn counties.”

MDC reports 11 new cases of CWD in Missouri deer

By Joe Jerek Published Date 03/10/2015 Body JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that 11 new cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) have recently been found in deer harvested in Macon, Adair, and now Cole counties. A buck harvested near the village of Centertown in Cole County is the first case of the disease to be found outside of the Department's six-county CWD Containment Zone of Adair, Chariton, Linn, Macon, Randolph, and Sullivan counties. All previous cases have been limited to Macon, Linn, and Adair counties.

These 11 new cases bring the total number of Missouri free-ranging deer that have tested positive for CWD to 14 for this past season and 24 overall since the disease was first discovered in the state in 2010 at a private hunting preserve in Linn County. CWD has also been found in 11 captive deer in Macon and Linn counties.

The Department has collected more than 43,000 tissue samples since it began testing for the emerging disease in 2001. MDC has collected more than 3,400 tissue samples for CWD testing from harvested and other free-ranging deer this season. Results for about 330 tissue samples are still in the process of being tested by an independent, outside laboratory.

"We will provide an update of final results once all testing has been completed for the season," said MDC Deer Biologist Jason Sumners. "We will continue to monitor the spread of the disease through more CWD testing this coming fall and winter. We are also updating our efforts to help contain the spread of the disease and will be working out the details over this spring and summer."

Chronic Wasting Disease infects only deer and other members of the deer family by causing degeneration of the brain. The disease has no vaccine or cure and is 100-percent fatal.

Missouri offers some of the best deer hunting in the country, and deer hunting is an important part of many Missourians' lives and family traditions. Infectious diseases such as CWD could reduce hunting and wildlife-watching opportunities for Missouri's nearly 520,000 deer hunters and almost two million wildlife watchers. Deer hunting is also an important economic driver in Missouri and gives a $1 billion annual boost to state and local economies.

Lower deer numbers from infectious diseases such as CWD could hurt 12,000 Missouri jobs and many businesses that rely on deer hunting as a significant source of revenue, such as meat processors, taxidermists, hotels, restaurants, sporting goods stores, and others. CWD also threatens the investments of thousands of private landowners who manage their land for deer and deer hunting, and who rely on deer and deer hunting to maintain property values.

For more information on CWD in Missouri, visit the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/node/16478

https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-reports-11-new-cases-cwd-missouri-deer