Chronic wasting disease (CWD)

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal, infectious nervous system disease belonging to the family of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases. It occurs only in members of the cervid or deer family, which includes deer, moose, elk and reindeer/caribou. The Wisconsin DNR began monitoring the state's wild white-tailed deer population for CWD in 1999. The first positives were found in 2002.