Analysis of brain tissue samples collected during last year’s hunting season from 255 deer and elk in Nevada has found no signs of chronic wasting disease (CWD), according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).

Mike Cox, NDOW staff biologist, said brain samples that were collected by NDOW from hunters at check stations and meat processors all tested negative for the disease. NDOW began testing for the disease in 1998 and none of the 760 deer and elk that have been tested since then have had CWD.

CWD is a progressive and fatal disease of the central nervous system of cervids, such as deer and elk. It’s first known appearance was in the late 1960s when it was seen in captive deer and elk herds in Colorado and Wyoming.

Information about chronic wasting disease can be found on NDOW’s web site at www.ndow.org.

Article lookup by year