The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has declared a state of emergency on Thursday following the recent confirmation of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a doe located in Ouachita Parish. This is the first confirmed CWD positive deer in Ouachita Parish.
CWD is a prion disease that occurs when proteins in the body misfold. This misfolding results in brain damage and various symptoms, ultimately resulting in death.
CWD impacts deer, elk, moose, and similar species across the United States and in a few other nations. The disease is infectious and fatal. There is no known treatment. It can be transmitted through urine, saliva, or feces. CWD can persist in the environment indefinitely.
Emergency measures are necessary to prevent further disease transmission. Scientists are investigating whether consuming meat from infected animals poses a risk to humans.
To prevent healthy deer from being attracted to infected areas, baiting and feeding of deer are prohibited within the control zone. Testing for CWD primarily relies on hunters who voluntarily submit deer heads to state wildlife officials at drop-off sites throughout Louisiana.
For more information, visit wlf.louisiana.gov.
