Press Release

Chronic Wasting Disease Detected for the First Time in Tazewell County

Richmond, VA — The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) recently confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in an adult male deer legally harvested in Tazewell County in November of 2023. This marks the first confirmed case of CWD in Tazewell County.

The deer was brought to a taxidermist in December, and DWR obtained the sample shortly thereafter as part of the Department’s proactive statewide CWD surveillance efforts. At the time of harvest, no outward signs of disease were noted, and the deer appeared to be in good condition.

As this deer was harvested a substantial distance from any previous CWD detections and could significantly alter deer management actions in Tazewell and nearby counties, DWR conducted an extensive forensic investigation. The purpose of the investigation was to confirm the harvest location of the deer, the integrity of the sampling and testing procedures, and that the sample tested was a genetic match to the harvested deer. Following this investigation, the Department is confident that this deer was harvested in Tazewell County and was indeed positive for CWD.

DWR is working to determine the most appropriate measures to address the presence of CWD in the county. These measures may include but aren’t limited to regulations around the transport of deer carcasses, enhanced CWD surveillance, as well as other methods designed to assess and manage the spread of the disease in Tazewell and the surrounding counties. Once these measures have been determined, they will be released to the public, detailed in the annual hunting laws digest, and posted on the agency’s website.

DWR has been closely monitoring CWD prevalence and spread in Virginia since 2002, with the first case detected in Frederick County in 2009. Since 2009, CWD has spread across the northern Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont of Virginia, where DWR manages the disease in two disease management areas (DMA1 and DMA2). A positive detection was found in Montgomery County in 2020, leading to the creation of DMA3 in southern Virginia. With the assistance of cooperating taxidermists, DWR has been conducting CWD surveillance statewide for the past six years. The Department is very appreciative of the support and cooperation demonstrated by taxidermists, processors, and hunters who aid in this sampling effort. As evidenced by this newly diagnosed case, their assistance is critical to the success of ongoing statewide CWD monitoring, surveillance, and prevention efforts.

CWD has been confirmed in at least 34 states, four Canadian provinces, northern Europe, and South Korea. In North America, this incurable disease is found in deer, elk, and moose. It is a slow-acting and progressive neurologic disease that ultimately results in death of the animal. The disease-causing agent, known as a prion, is spread through the urine, feces, and saliva of infected animals. Infected animals may not exhibit any symptoms of CWD for 16 months to two years after exposure. Clinical signs of CWD may include staggering, abnormal posture, lowered head, drooling, confusion, and marked weight loss. While there is no evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans, pets, or livestock, there is still much unknown about the potential for transmission to humans. Although CWD diagnostic tests are not

food-safety tests, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that hunters test all deer harvested from known CWD-positive areas and not consume meat from animals that test positive.

For more information about CWD regulations, maps of affected states, and general information about CWD, please visit the DWR website. To report a sick deer, please call the Wildlife Helpline at 1-855-571- 9003.