Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal infection that affects species in the deer family (cervids) such as mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose and caribou.
CWD is a neurological disease that affects species in the deer family (cervids), including deer, elk, moose and caribou. The disease is caused by abnormal proteins (called prions) that accumulate in tissues, most significantly in the brain. There is no vaccine or treatment – the disease is always fatal.
The origin of CWD is unknown. The disease was first detected in captive mule deer in a Colorado research facility in the 1960s. It was later described as a prion disease and continued to spread to free-ranging deer and elk populations. The disease has since been confirmed in captive and free-ranging elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer and moose in 35 American states and 4 Canadian provinces.
An infected animal will shed infectious proteins (prions) through urine, feces, and saliva. CWD prions may also enter the environment via infected carcasses or contaminated material such as hay or urine-based scents (urine scented products used for hunting and trapping). Animals are exposed to the disease by direct animal-to-animal contact or contact with a contaminated environment. The disease can then be spread by natural animal movement or human movement of infected animals, animal parts and/or contaminated materials.
CWD was detected for the first time in B.C. in January 2024 in deer samples from the Kootenay Region. View the positive detections map (PDF, 979KB) to see the known cases of CWD in BC.
Surveillance and preventative measures have been ongoing in B.C. for over 20 years, with targeted efforts in the highest risk areas. With vital support from partners and communities, the government of B.C. has been able to detect this disease early. The priority now is expanded surveillance and risk mitigation that aims to reduce disease transmission, prevent spread to new areas and limit the negative impacts of CWD as much as possible.
You can play an important role in CWD management in B.C.:
For more information, see the Surveillance and Response Plan for CWD in B.C. (PDF, 650KB).
Preventing the spread of CWD is important to limit the negative impacts as much as possible. Visit the CWD prevention page to learn more about:
Surveillance and testing are important to track the occurrence of CWD and identify cases as soon as possible. Visit the surveillance and testing page to learn more about:
Visit the surveillance and testing page
CWD response and management strategies are based on principles of disease management and what has worked in other places.
Visit the response and management page to learn more about:
Visit the response and management page
Learn more about CWD and help us to raise awareness by sharing this content.
Visit the CWD Resources page to learn more about:
The latest news for CWD will be posted here. Learn more and help us raise awareness by sharing this content.
New case of chronic wasting disease confirmed in B.C. - December 3, 2024
The government of B.C. has confirmed the fourth case of chronic wasting disease in British Columbia, found in a white-tailed deer in the Kootenay region.
New case of chronic wasting disease confirmed in B.C. - November 21, 2024
The government of B.C. has confirmed an additional case of chronic wasting disease in British Columbia, found in a white-tailed deer in the Kootenay region.
B.C. government takes further action to manage chronic wasting disease - July 19, 2024
The B.C. government is taking further steps to limit the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer populations and to protect elk, moose and caribou that are also at risk of infection.
B.C. government continues deer harvest to test for chronic wasting disease - April 23, 2024
The B.C. government continues to address chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the Kootenay Region where two deer samples tested positive for CWD earlier this year.
B.C. government will harvest 25 deer for chronic wasting disease testing - Mar 12, 2024
The B.C. government is taking further action to address chronic wasting disease by conducting a limited deer harvest in the Kootenay region where two deer samples tested positive for chronic wasting disease earlier this year.
New restrictions for region affected by Chronic Wasting Disease - February 13, 2024
The Chief Veterinarian has issued General Order CWD2024-001 (PDF, 255 KB) in response to the detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in B.C. The restrictions apply within the Initial Response Area (PDF, 545KB), defined as Management Units 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, and a portion of 4-22. This is south of and including Highway 3, which is situated between south of Cranbrook toward the United States border, west to the Moyie Range, and east to the Macdonald Range. The order applies to all cervids, including deer, elk, moose and caribou.
All persons who collect found dead cervids, or parts of found dead cervids (including cervids harvested as a result of hunting) in the response area must:
B.C. responds to first cases of chronic wasting disease in deer - Feb 1, 2024
The B.C. government is responding to the first cases of chronic wasting disease in British Columbia, found in two deer samples from the Kootenay Region.
Surveillance and Response Plan for CWD in B.C. updated July 2023
Surveillance is a critical component of disease prevention and management. Surveillance is required to confirm B.C.’s CWD status, to detect the disease as soon as possible and to provide information that will inform the response to a positive diagnosis in B.C.
View the latest CWD testing results.
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