For the first time, chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been found in Carroll County, Tennessee, WBBJ TV reports.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) reported the case of the fatal neurodegenerative disease yesterday in a hunter-harvested deer in the county, in the western part of the state. Because the county was already part of the state’s CWD management zone, wildlife feeding and carcass transportation rules had already been implemented, and no changes to the deer-hunting season or regulations are expected.
The TWRA has submitted roughly 9,000 animal samples for CWD testing, the news outlet reported.
CWD is a prion disease in cervids
Caused by misfolded infectious proteins called prions, CWD affects cervids such as deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. CWD can spread from animal to animal and through environmental contamination. The disease isn’t known to infect humans, but authorities advise against eating meat from sick animals and recommend using precautions when handling carcasses.
