Chronic Wasting Disease

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal brain disease of deer and elk that is believed to be caused by an abnormal protein called a prion. Animals infected with CWD show progressive loss of weight and body condition, behavioral changes, excessive salivation, increased drinking and urination, depression, loss of muscle control and eventual death. Chronic wasting disease is always fatal for the afflicted animal. The disease cannot be diagnosed by observation of physical symptoms because many big game diseases affect animals in similar ways. The origin and transmission of this disease among deer and elk is not well understood. There is no scientific evidence that CWD can be naturally transmitted to humans or to animals other than deer and elk.

SD INFORMATION LINKS

• South Dakota CWD Management Plan
• South Dakota CWD Facts
• Latest South Dakota CWD Testing Results
• Animal Industry Board CWD Pamphlet

Maps Showing Locations of Positive CWD Tests

• Black Hills view of Positive CWD cases in South Dakota, 2001 - June 2015
• Black Hills view of Positive CWD cases in South Dakota, July 2014 - June 2015

OTHER CWD WEBPAGES

• Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance
• Colorado CWD Information
• Iowa CWD Information
• Minnesota CWD Information
• Montana CWD Information
• North Dakota CWD Information
• Wyoming CWD Information
• Nebraska CWD Information