First Case of Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer Confirmed in North Carolina
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has announced that a female deer harvested in Johnston County has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD). This marks the first case of the disease in the state this year.
CWD is a highly-contagious neurological disease that affects deer and elk. It is spread through the saliva, urine, and feces of live deer or the movement of deer carcasses. The disease is always fatal in deer, elk, moose, and reindeer/caribou, but there have been no reports of it spreading to humans.
Officials have stated that this is the first positive test in Johnston County since March 2022. They are urging hunters in Johnston and the surrounding counties to take precautions when transporting or disposing of deer carcasses to prevent the further spread of the disease.
Symptoms of CWD in deer include isolation from other animals, listlessness, lack of coordination, frequent lowering of the head, blank facial expressions, walking in set patterns, drooling and grinding of teeth, drinking lots of water and increased urination, and low weight. If hunters come across a deer exhibiting any of these symptoms, they are advised to leave the animal and call the N.C. Wildlife Helpline at 1-866-318-2401.
To prevent the spread of CWD, hunters are encouraged to practice safe disposal of all deer remains. They can either bury the deer where it was harvested, double bag the remains for disposal at the nearest landfill, or leave the remains on the ground. Additionally, hunters should not eat any parts from a deer that appears sick, and they should avoid consuming the eyes, brain, tongue, spinal cord, spleen, tonsils, or lymph nodes of any deer.
N.C. Wildlife recommends that whole deer carcasses and high-risk carcass parts remain in Johnston County or be taken to a processor or taxidermist participating in the NCWRC’s Cervid Health Cooperator Program in an adjacent county for proper disposal and testing. If these options are not available, hunters can choose to bury the remains, double bag them for landfill disposal, or leave them on the ground. Low-risk carcass parts, such as boned-out meat, caped hides, antlers, cleaned skulls, cleaned jawbones and teeth, and finished taxidermy products can be safely transported to areas outside of Johnston County.
In previous years, eleven cases of CWD have been reported in Cumberland, Johnston, Stokes, Yadkin, Surry, and Wilkes counties.
The confirmation of CWD in Johnston County raises concerns about the potential spread of the disease. Officials are emphasizing the importance of hunters following the recommended precautions and contacting the N.C. Wildlife Helpline if they come across deer with symptoms of the disease. Awareness and adherence to these measures can help mitigate the impact of CWD on North Carolina’s deer and elk populations.