AUSTIN – Two new cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) have been confirmed in separate deer-breeding facilities in Hamilton and Frio Counties. These mark the first detection of the disease in each county.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease found in certain cervids, including deer, elk, moose, and other members of the deer family. It is a slow and progressive disease, and due to a long incubation, cervids infected with CWD may not produce any visible signs for several years after becoming infected.
As the disease progresses, animals with CWD show changes in behavior and appearance. Clinical signs may include progressive weight loss, stumbling or tremors with a lack of coordination, excessive thirst, salivation or urination, loss of appetite, teeth grinding, abnormal head posture and/or drooping ears.
To date, there are no known cases where CWD has infected a human, but recent research suggests CWD transmission from infected animals to humans should not be ruled out.
For more on CWD, read “Oh Deer: Heading Off a Wildlife Epidemic.”