In British Columbia’s Kootenay region, a deer that was hunted recently has been found positive for chronic wasting disease, marking the ninth reported case in the province. The confirmation of this case occurred within a designated management zone aimed at containing the spread of the disease. This discovery was the result of testing on a white-tailed deer harvested near Jaffray, B.C.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal infectious illness affecting various species such as deer, elk, moose, and caribou. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for this always deadly condition, which has been progressively spreading throughout the Kootenay region since its initial detection in the province last year.
To enhance disease surveillance within the existing management zone, the province announced a special hunting period last month. During this period from Jan. 5 to Jan. 31, hunters are permitted to take part in a special hunt within the Kootenay chronic wasting disease management zone and harvest a third deer, surpassing the usual limit of two deer per season in B.C.
Hunters within the management zone are mandated to submit samples for free testing and report any sick animals to the B.C. government. Additionally, there are strict restrictions on transporting carcasses in the Kootenay region due to the prevalence of the disease. All confirmed cases of chronic wasting disease in B.C. are concentrated within the Kootenays, located in the southeast corner of the province.
The B.C. government is actively working to prevent disease transmission from the Kootenays to other regions, particularly focusing on deer populations along the B.C.-Alberta border. Hunters outside the Kootenays, especially in the Peace region bordering Alberta, are encouraged to voluntarily provide samples from harvested deer, elk, and moose for testing.
In neighboring Alberta, over 26% of mule deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease in the 2024-25 period. The B.C. government is committed to containing the disease and is closely monitoring deer populations along the border with Alberta.
Chronic wasting disease, like other prion diseases, is a group of rare neurodegenerative disorders that impact brain function in both humans and animals. While there is no confirmed human transmission of the disease and no reported cases in humans, Health Canada and the World Health Organization advise against consuming the meat of an infected animal to prevent any potential risks.
One well-known prion disease is bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease.