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2020–2021 Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Results for Disease Management Areas 1 and 2
Richmond, VA — The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has announced the results of the 2020 – 2021 chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance efforts are available for the two DWR Disease Management Areas (DMA), which encompass 11 counties in Virginia. DMA1 includes the counties of Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren and DMA2 includes the counties of Culpeper, Fauquier, Loudoun, Madison, Page, Orange, and Rappahannock.
Within the two DMAs, a total of 20 hunter-harvested white-tailed deer were confirmed to be infected with CWD. Of the 20 CWD-positive deer, 13 originated in Frederick County, two originated in Shenandoah County, and one was harvested in each of Madison, Loudoun, Fauquier, Rappahannock, and Warren Counties. These CWD detections were a result of intensive sampling efforts that resulted in over 3,000 deer being tested for CWD from these two DMAs combined.
DWR expects to receive and make available the results from CWD surveillance efforts in the remainder of counties not included in either DMA later this spring.
DWR is grateful for the cooperation of all those who have aided DWR’s CWD management efforts by allowing samples to be taken from harvested deer. This assistance is critical to the success of our ongoing CWD monitoring, surveillance, and prevention efforts statewide.
CWD has been detected in twenty-six states and three Canadian provinces. In Virginia, a total of 108 deer have tested positive for CWD since 2009. This incurable disease, found in deer, elk, and moose in North America, is a slow-acting and progressive neurologic disease that ultimately results in death of the animal. The disease-causing agent is spread through the urine, feces, and saliva of infected animals. Clinical signs of CWD, which typically do not develop for several months to over a year after exposure, include staggering, abnormal posture, lowered head, drooling, confusion, and marked weight loss.
There is no evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans, pets, or livestock (with the possible exception of pigs). However, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends hunters test all deer harvested from known CWD-positive areas, wait until test results are received prior to consuming the meat, and do not consume any meat from animals that test positive for the disease. Regulations pertaining to CWD, maps of affected states, and information about CWD can be found on the DWR website at: dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd.