MDC releases final CWD numbers from last season's sampling

Apr. 11—The Missouri Department of Conservation on Thursday released final CWD numbers from last season's sampling, and it showed ongoing spread of the deer disease in Southwest Missouri.

Of the 162 positives identified statewide, one was in Jasper County — the first for the county — and 15 were in Barton County. One more case also was detected in Barry County.

Chronic wasting disease was first detected in Barton County during the 2022-2023 season, when there were nine positives, bringing the total in the last two years there to 24 cases.

There have now been a total of six positives in Barry County since CWD was first detected there during the 2021-2022 hunting season.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reported 37,000 deer were tested for chronic wasting disease during the 2023 CWD surveillance year between July 2023 and April 2024, with 162 positives detected.

The state also reported that since it began testing for CWD in 2002, there have been 572 positives statewide, which includes the latest sampling; the first positive was found in 2012.

Deb Hudman, supervisor of the department's Wildlife Health Program, said in a statement that the disease was detected for the first time in eight counties, including Jasper. That case was northwest of Joplin along Center Creek near the Kansas line.

She also said that fewer than 1% of tissue samples from "hunter-harvested" deer tested positive for CWD.

"That is good news," Hudman said in the statement. "It is a testament to our ability to find the disease early in new areas and apply management actions to slow its spread."

Last season was the first time mandatory sampling was required in Jasper County following the detection of CWD in southern Barton County the previous year.

The disease has not been detected in McDonald, Newton or Lawrence counties.

The state has implemented a number of management strategies to reduce the spread of CWD. One of those strategies has been designating counties where the disease has been found, and those within 10 miles of a positive, as part of a management zone where mandatory sampling may be required and different regulations apply for hunting and carcass movement restrictions.

Because of the positive in Jasper County, Newton County could be included in a CWD management zone this fall, which means different regulations could apply. The decision will be up to the Missouri Conservation Commission.

Missouri officials also have been monitoring the outbreak of CWD in Northwest Arkansas in counties along the border. So far, there have been 1,720 positives in deer in Arkansas as of Feb. 22, and 52 positives in elk since the disease was first detected there in 2016. Almost all of those are in the northwest part of the state.

There have been a total of 16 cases in Benton County, 181 in Carroll County and 283 in Boone County, and many of those are right on the state line. There were 57 positives in the last year of sampling in those three counties in Arkansas.

That is why southern Missouri counties, including McDonald, have been part of Missouri Department of Conservation management zones, even though there have been no positives yet in McDonald County.

No positives have been detected in Missouri's elk herd, Isabelle said.

CWD is a fatal neurological illness that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose. The disease can be transmitted freely within and among deer populations. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation's website, "There have been no reported cases of CWD infection in people. However, some studies raise concerns that there may be a potential risk to people. Research is ongoing. Hunters and others should take precautions when processing any game to help prevent the transmission of any potential disease."

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reports that to date there have been no reported cases of CWD spreading to humans. "However, some animal studies suggest CWD poses a risk to certain types of non-human primates, like monkeys, that eat meat from CWD-infected animals or come in contact with brain or body fluids from infected deer or elk," the CDC website says.

Deer hunting remains one of Missouri's most popular fall outdoor activities, with two archery seasons and various firearms seasons every fall and winter.