Statewide Iowa — (RI) — The number of wild deer testing positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the season that just ended dramatically increased.
DNR spokesman, Mick Klemesrud , says they get samples from hunters throughout the season.
The first CWD positive was confirmed in the 2013-2014 hunting season and the number of confirmed cases were in the single digits until the 2016-2017 year when there were 12. The 43 confirmed cases this year surpasses the previous high of 18 found in the 2018-2019 year.
CWD attacks the brain of the deer and is always fatal. Klemesrud says it is not the same as Hemorrhagic Disease.
Klemesrud says the DNR will continue its effort to slow C-W-D.
Klemesrud says it is something they want to try and slow down.
It is not believed that humans can contract CWD by eating venison; however, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends, when hunting in areas with CWD that hunters strongly consider having the deer tested before they eat the meat. The DNR provides a way to check on CWD tests on their website.
