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NWDP: Chronic Wasting Disease in

Wildlife

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Chronic wasting disease (CWD) infects cervids (elk and deer). It is not known to

infect other wildlife, livestock, or humans. CWD belongs to the family of diseases

known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The causative infectious

agents are abnormal proteins called prions. There is no known treatment, and the
mode of transmission is not well understood.

CWD has been found in North America, Norway, and South Korea. The distribution in

North America has been increasing. As of April 2022, it has been detected in 30 U.S.

States and 4 Canadian provinces in free-ranging cervids and/or commercial captive

cervid facilities.

Affected Species

In the United States, CWD is known to infect a variety of wild species, including

white-tailed deer, mule deer, black-tailed deer, elk, and moose. To date, there have

been no reported cases of CWD transmission from animals to people. CWD belongs

to a family of prion diseases or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs)

that cause rare progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect both humans

and animals. They are distinguished by long incubation periods, characteristic

spongiform changes associated with neurologic loss and failure. The Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention has more information on CWD, including prevention

and general precautions for hunters and others handling potentially infected cervids.

NWDP Activities

Since 2020, the U.S. Federal Government has appropriated funds to further develop

and implement cervid CWD surveillance, testing, management, and response

activities, including further development and evaluation of techniques and strategies

to prevent or control CWD in cervids. This funding is awarded to State Agencies,

federally recognized Native American Tribal governments and Tribal organizations

through a competitive process using cooperative agreements. APHIS Veterinary

Services' Cervid Health Program administers these funding opportunities for farmed

cervids. NWDP administers these funding opportunities for wild cervids. 

View Chronic Wasting Disease Funding Opportunities

More Information

Wildlife Services Program Information
Cervids: Chronic Wasting Disease

USGS Expanding Distribution of CWD

Prevention | Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) | Prion Disease | CDC

Contact Us

National Wildlife Disease Program

The National Wildlife Disease Program works with partners nationwide to conduct

disease monitoring and surveillance in wild animals and is the primary emergency

response contact point within APHIS Wildlife Services. Our program coordinator is

available for questions about wildlife disease monitoring and surveillance, the status

of disease outbreaks and emerging disease events, and wildlife emergency response

activities in natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, wildfires) or oil spills.

Julianna Lenoch

National Wildlife Disease Program Coordinator

Email: julianna.b.lenoch@usda.gov

Phone: 970-266-6350

Sarah Bevins

Assistant National Wildlife Disease Program Coordinator

Email: sarah.n.bevins@usda.gov

All Contacts