Chronic Wasting Disease: CWD Updates

CWD Updates    View list of available reports

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE, or prion disease) affecting free-ranging and captive mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose in North America. It is a contagious neurodegenerative disorder that results in abnormal behavior, emaciation, loss of bodily functions, and ultimately, death. CWD poses significant challenges for wildlife managers, and the long-term implications for free-ranging deer and elk are substantial.

With cooperation from state and federal agencies, universities and other partners, Bruce Morrison, a wildlife biologist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, began writing and distributing CWD Updates in 2002. These periodic briefs summarize current CWD events, issues, management efforts and the results of relevant scientific research. They are distributed to interested stakeholders, a diverse community involved with the science, management and prevention of this disease.

This collection of reports provides a historical overview of CWD since March 2002. Bruce Morrison retired in December 2006; Bryan Richards, CWD Project Leader at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, has assumed preparation and distribution of CWD Updates. The reports are written for communication purposes only and do not reflect the positions of the publishing agency.