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Chronic Wasting Disease Detected in Loudoun County
Richmond, VA — As a result of the Department of Wildlife Resources’ (DWR) ongoing chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance efforts, a hunter- harvested CWD-positive deer was recently confirmed in Loudoun County. This adult doe was harvested in October during archery season, less than 10 miles from the closest detection in Clarke County and less than 2 miles from the West Virginia border. Loudoun County is already included in Disease Management Area 2 (DMA2), and the boundaries of this DMA will not change based on detection of this CWD-positive deer.
The Department is grateful to all cooperating hunters, processors, and taxidermists for their continued support of DWR’s efforts to monitor the deer population for CWD and prevent the spread of the disease across the landscape. Working cooperatively with avid outdoor enthusiasts is a crucial component of effective CWD surveillance. One of the most important things that hunters in CWD disease management areas can do to help fight this fatal disease is to submit harvested deer for CWD testing. Testing helps DWR monitor the infection rate of local deer populations and map the geographic spread. This information is critical to helping slow the spread of this disease.
Please note that in all DMA counties, the DWR has set up at least one refrigerator drop site for voluntary CWD testing. Information on nearby voluntary CWD testing collection sites can be found here: dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd/voluntary-chronic-wasting-disease-testing-in-disease-management-area-2/. At any point during the deer seasons, a hunter may drop off the head plus 4 inches of attached neck of a harvested deer at one of the drop sites. Please look for and follow the directions posted at the site. Some local taxidermists and processors are authorized by the DWR to collect and submit samples on behalf of hunters. Please call your local processor or taxidermist to inquire if they are working with the DWR to assist with CWD surveillance. Whichever way hunters decide to submit deer for CWD testing, the DWR recommends waiting to receive test results before eating the venison. There is no evidence that CWD can infect humans; however, to keep risk of exposure as low as possible, experts advise not eating the venison from CWD-positive deer.
A summary of all statewide CWD surveillance and monitoring efforts will be released in winter 2021. Best management practices for hunters, taxidermists, and processors, and additional information about CWD can be found on the DWR website at: dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/cwd/.