In British Columbia’s Kootenay region, a deer recently hunted tested positive for chronic wasting disease, bringing the total reported cases in the province to nine. This confirmation, announced by the province on Friday, occurred within a designated management zone aimed at containing the disease spread. The infected white-tailed deer was harvested near Jaffray, British Columbia.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal infectious illness affecting various species such as elk, deer, moose, and caribou. The disease, incurable and always lethal, has been progressively spreading in the Kootenay region since its initial detection in the province last year.
To enhance disease surveillance in the management zone, the province initiated a special hunting season, allowing hunters to harvest a third deer from January 5 to January 31. Hunters within this area are required to submit samples for free testing and report any sick animals due to stringent regulations concerning carcass transportation in the Kootenay region.
All nine confirmed cases of CWD in British Columbia are concentrated in the Kootenays, located in the southeast corner of the province. The government is particularly focused on preventing disease transmission to other regions, especially along the British Columbia-Alberta border, urging hunters to voluntarily submit samples from harvested deer, elk, and moose. In Alberta, over 26% of mule deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease in the 2024-25 period.
Prion diseases like CWD, rare neurodegenerative disorders affecting both humans and animals, lead to brain function impairment. While no direct evidence suggests transmission to humans, Health Canada and the World Health Organization advise against consuming meat from infected animals. Notably, mad cow disease is a well-known prion disease example.
