Lafayette, LA – The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has issued an alert regarding the detection of three additional cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in captive deer pens. These new cases were confirmed in Concordia, St. Landry, and Tangipahoa parishes, and are linked to a previously identified CWD-positive deer pen in Jefferson Davis Parish. The initial discovery of the disease in Louisiana occurred in November, when CWD was first detected in a captive deer within Jefferson Davis Parish.
As a result of these findings, deer from the affected pens have been traced to 11 other parishes across the state, though no additional positive cases have been reported in those areas at this time. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), which oversees the state’s captive deer program, has also joined forces with LDWF to manage and mitigate the effects of the disease.
The recent detections of CWD in Louisiana’s captive deer population have raised concerns over the potential for the disease to spill over into the wild deer population. However, as of now, there have been no reported cases of CWD in wild deer in any of the parishes where infected captive deer have been found. Despite this, authorities are urging hunters to remain vigilant and report any deer that may show signs of CWD.
Hunters in areas where deer season is still in progress are encouraged to contact their nearest LDWF Field Office for information on how to submit deer samples for CWD testing. Several CWD sample drop-off locations are available in Concordia Parish, with additional offices in Hammond, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Minden, Monroe, and Pineville, ready to assist hunters with testing.
CWD is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects white-tailed deer and other members of the Cervidae family. The disease, which is caused by an infectious prion (misfolded protein), has no known cure or vaccine. Deer infected with CWD typically exhibit symptoms such as extreme weight loss, excessive salivation, difficulty coordinating movements, circling, and a lack of fear of humans before ultimately succumbing to the disease.
While CWD has not been shown to be transmissible to humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) both recommend against consuming deer known to be infected with the disease. Hunters in areas where CWD is present are advised to have their harvested deer tested before consumption.
Since 2002, LDWF has conducted statewide surveillance of free-ranging deer, with the only confirmed wild CWD cases being found in Tensas Parish. With the recent cases in captive pens, continued surveillance will be crucial in determining whether the disease has spread to the wild population. Early detection remains key to slowing the potential spread of the disease.
As of now, authorities are working together to prevent further spread and minimize the impact of CWD on both Louisiana’s captive and wild deer populations.