Chronic Wasting Disease
Questions and Answers on Chronic Wasting Disease for Hunters (Handout)
Courtesy of The Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance
What is Chronic Wasting Disease?
CWD is a neurological (brain and nervous system) disease found in deer, eld and moose (collectively referred to as cervids) in certain geographical locations in North America. The disease belongs to a family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopatheis (TSE) or prion diseases. CWD attacks the brains of infected cervids and is always fatal. Though CWD is similar to mad cow disdase in cattle and scrapic in sheep, there is no known relationship between CWD and any other TSE found in animals or humans.
How is it spread?
It is not completely understood how CWD is spread. It is believed tht the agent responsible for the disease may be spread both directly (animal to animal contact) and indirectly (soil or other surface to animal). It is throght that the most common mode of transmission from an infected animal may be via saliva and feces.
Is it dangerous to humans?
There is currently no evidence that CWD is transmissible to humans. However, public health officials recommend that human exposure to the CWD agent be avoided as they continue to research the disease.
Links
www.cwd-info.org
Contact Us
DRM (218) 335-7400
| Name | Title | Phone |
| Mortensen, Steve | Fish, Wildlife & Plant Resources Program Director | 335-7421 |
| Kapfer, Paul | Wildlife Biologist | 335-7428 |
| Henderson, Bobby | Botanist/Invasive Species Coordinator | 335-7442 |
| Becker, Lisa | Invasive Species Field Technician | 335-7408 |
| Finn, Jon | Fish & Wildlife Field Specialist | 335-7424 |
| White, Gary | Assistant Hatchery Manager | 335-7424 |
| Robinson, Martin | Fish and Wildlife Technician | 335-7424 |
| Cameron, Ben | Service Manager | 335-7425 |
Division of Resource Management
15756 State 371 NW