CWD was first identified
January 12, 1967
CWD was first identified as a clinical disease in captive mule deer at the Colorado Division of Wildlife Foothills Wildlife Research Facility in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Read moreClassified as a TSE
February 4, 1978
CWD was officially classified as a Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE). TSE’s include scrapie in sheep and goats, Mad Cow disease in cattle, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.
Read moreFirst recognized in captive mule & black-tailed deer
June 6, 1979
CWD was first recognized in captive mule deer and black-tailed deer at the Wyoming Fish and Game Department’s Sybille wildlife research facility. CWD was diagnosed in captive elk for the first time.
Read moreThe first diagnosis of CWD in Canada
January 1, 1981
The first diagnosis of CWD in Canada was in 1981 in mule deer at the Toronto Zoo.
Read moreFirst documented case of CWD in a wild cervid
September 9, 1981
The Colorado Division of Wildlife identified CWD in a wild elk, marking the first documented case of CWD in a wild cervid.
Read moreFirst confirmed case of CWD in a wild mule deer
February 4, 1985
The Colorado Division of Wildlife confirmed the presence of CWD in a wild mule deer for the first time. The Colorado Division of Wildlife attempted to eliminate CWD from the Fort Collins Foothills Wildlife Research Facility by treating the soil with chlorine, removing the treated soil, and applying an additional…
Read moreFirst CWD case outside “endemic zone”
February 4, 1996
CWD was found for the first time outside of the Colorado/Wyoming CWD “endemic zone” in a captive elk farm in Saskatchewan.
Read moreFirst CWD case outside “endemic zone”
July 10, 1996
CWD was found for the first time outside of the Colorado/Wyoming CWD “endemic zone” in a captive elk farm in Saskatchewan.
Read moreFirst documented cases of CWD in South Dakota
February 20, 1997
CWD is identified on several captive elk facilities in South Dakota, marking the first documented cases of CWD in the state.
Read moreInfected Elk Found in Philipsburg
April 15, 1998
June 1998 and again in June 1999, elk shipped to Oklahoma from an alternative livestock facility near Philipsburg were confirmed to have CWD.
Read moreFirst Documented Case in Nebraska
July 15, 1999
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission discovered CWD in a wild mule deer, the state’s first documented case of the disease. CWD is detected in a captive elk facility in Oklahoma, marking the first time the disease was found in the state. In November and December 1999, all 83 elk…
Read moreFirst Case in Saskatchewan
December 15, 2000
CWD was found in a Saskatchewan mule deer, marking the first time the disease was found in the province’s wild cervids.
Read moreFirst case in South Korea
December 28, 2000
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been recognized as an important prion disease in native North American deer and Rocky Mountain elk. The disease is a unique member of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), which naturally affects only a few species. CWD had been limited to USA and Canada until 2000….
Read moreFirst Cases in Nebraska and South Dakota
February 4, 2001
South Dakota discovered CWD in wild white-tailed deer for the first time. Nebraska discovered CWD in a captive white-tailed deer facility for the first time
Read moreFirst Documented Case in Wisconsin
February 4, 2002
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources detected CWD in wild white-tailed deer, the state’s first documented case of CWD.
Read moreFirst Case in New Mexico
June 19, 2002
SANTA FE, N.M. – A mule deer collected from the White Sands Missile Range has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease and the director of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish declared an Animal Health Emergency Tuesday, closing the state to any importation of deer or elk. Director…
Read moreThe 1st International CWD Symposium was held in Denver, Colorado.
August 6, 2002
The Colorado Division of Wildlife helped host the Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium on August 6-7, 2002 in Denver. Nearly 500 people attended to hear a variety of presentations on all aspects of CWD. Read more.
Read moreFirst Case in Minnesota
August 30, 2002
Chronic Wasting Disease found in a farmed elk from Aitkin County. Case marks the first time this disease has been detected in Minnesota ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Board of Animal Health today announced that a single animal from an Aitkin County domestic elk herd has tested positive for…
Read moreChronic Wasting Disease Found in Portage County
September 20, 2002
A white-tailed buck shot on a game farm in Portage County has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, the first time the fatal brain disorder has been found in Wisconsin outside the original outbreak area southwest of Madison. Read more.
Read moreSaskatchewan detected CWD in a mule deer outside of the province’s previously delineated CWD containment area
October 31, 2002
Saskatchewan has its fourth confirmed case of chronic wasting disease in the wild deer population, but this one is different from the previous three. “It showed up in an area outside of what we thought was the containment area,” said Kevin Callele, manager of resource allocation with Saskatchewan Environment’s fish…
Read moreThe Illinois Department of Natural Resources discovered CWD in a wild white-tailed deer, the state’s first documented case of CWD.
November 1, 2002
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected in a sample from a wild deer near Roscoe in Winnebago County, the Department of Natural Resources announced today. CWD is not known to be contagious to livestock or humans. Read more.
Read moreFirst case of CWD in Alberta
November 6, 2002
EDMONTON (CP) – The first case of chronic wasting disease at a whitetail deer farm in Canada has been confirmed near Edmonton, the Canadian Cervid Council said Wednesday. Two whitetail deer farms have been quarantined and a two-week moratorium on the movement of farmed whitetail deer and mule deer has…
Read moreFirst Case in Wyoming
November 18, 2002
A deer harvested in Deer Hunt Area 78, on the western slope of the Snowy Range, south of Saratoga and one harvested in Deer Hunt Area 82 on the western slope of the Sierra Madres tested positive for chronic wasting disease. Read more.
Read moreFirst Case in South Dakota
November 19, 2002
HOT SPRINGS — Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been found in an elk in Wind Cave National Park, superintendent Linda L. Stoll announced Monday. Park staff recently discovered a 5-year-old elk exhibiting symptoms of the contagious brain disease. The elk was killed and brain tissue samples were analyzed at the…
Read moreFirst Case in Utah
February 18, 2003
Salt Lake City — A buck deer taken by a hunter in northeastern Utah has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), the Division of Wildlife Resources has announced. Read more.
Read moreA dot blot ELISA test for CWD, developed by VMRD, Inc., was licensed for CWD testing.
March 7, 2003
A dot blot ELISA test for CWD, developed by VMRD, Inc., has been licensed for CWD testing. The test uses the retropharyngeal lymph nodes and has a turnaround time of approximately 24 hours. Cost for a test kit that will run approximately 960 samples is $4,300. However, the sensitivity of…
Read moreUnited States Department of Agriculture licensed a CWD dot plot (ELISA) test developed by VMRD, Inc.
March 7, 2003
A dot blot ELISA test for CWD, developed by VMRD, Inc., has been licensed for CWD testing. The test uses the retropharyngeal lymph nodes and has a turnaround time of approximately 24 hours. Cost for a test kit that will run approximately 960 samples is $4,300. However, the sensitivity of…
Read moreU.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) introduced a comprehensive bi-partisan bill targeted at coordinating and increasing federal response to CWD management.
May 9, 2003
ALLARD INTRODUCES CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE BILL LEGISLATION COORDINATES RESPONSE, INCREASES FUNDING Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) on Friday introduced a comprehensive bi-partisan Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) bill that coordinates and increases the federal response to the disease, which has impacted Colorado and nine other states, as well…
Read moreRep. Ron Kind (D-WI) introduced two bills created to assist states in combating the spread of CWD
June 12, 2003
the National Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force Establishment Act and the Chronic Wasting Disease Research, Monitoring, and Education Enhancement Act. Read more.
Read moreThe United States Department of Agriculture approved a second-generation CWD test
July 15, 2003
developed by Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Read more.
Read moreCongress approved a bill that includes $4.2 million to expand research on CWD in wild deer and elk populations.
November 4, 2003
Congress gave final approval Monday to a bill that includes $4.2 million to expand research on chronic wasting disease on wild deer and elk populations. Read more.
Read moreTommy Thompson announced creation of a federal interagency working group
September 24, 2004
Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced creation of a federal interagency working group to identify gaps in scientific knowledge about abnormal prion proteins and promote coordination of prion research projects by federal agencies. Read more.
Read moreCWD was set as a national priority
October 28, 2004
CWD was set as a national priority for piloting a Wildlife Disease Action Plan by the Canadian Councils of Resource Ministers. Read more.
Read moreStrange case found in Nebraska
December 10, 2004
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission confirmed a case of CWD in a white-tailed deer near the town of Grand Island. This is approximately 250 miles east of the Panhandle where all previous cases of CWD had been documented. Read more.
Read moreCase of Interest in Colorado
January 28, 2005
The Colorado Division of Wildlife identified a case of CWD in a mule deer south of Colorado Springs. This is the farthest south on the Front Range that CWD has been detected.
Read moreFirst Case in New York
March 31, 2005
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets confirmed the presence of CWD in a captive white-tailed deer, marking the state’s first documented case of CWD. Read more
Read moreFirst Wild Case in New York
April 27, 2005
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation discovered CWD in a wild white-tailed deer from Oneida County. This documented the first case of CWD found in the state’s wild deer populations.
Read moreThe 2nd International CWD Symposium was held in Madison, Wisconsin.
July 12, 2005
2nd International CWD SymposiumJuly 12-14, 2005 Monona Terrace Convention Center Madison, WisconsinSponsors:Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources USGS National Wildlife Health Center USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services US Fish & Wildlife Service CWD Alliance Sessions:Biology of Prions TSE Diagnostics Environmental Contamination, Disposal & Disinfection Management and Control of CWD Regulatory…
Read moreFirst Case in West Virginia
September 2, 2005
The first documented case of CWD in West Virginia is identified in a wild white-tailed deer.
Read moreFirst Case in Colorado found in a Moose
September 29, 2005
The Colorado Division of Wildlife confirmed the first documented case of CWD in a wild moose.
Read moreFirst Case in New Mexico’s Wild Elk
December 9, 2005
The New Mexico Department of Fish and Game discovered CWD in two wild elk from the Sacramento Mountains, documenting the first cases of CWD found in the state’s wild elk populations.
Read moreFirst Case in Kansas
January 24, 2006
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks discovered CWD in a white-tailed deer from Cheyenne County. This is the first time CWD was found in the state.
Read moreDiscovery: CWD prions are present in the leg muscles of infected deer.
January 27, 2006
Researchers at the University of Kentucky found that CWD prions are present in the leg muscles of infected deer.
Read moreFirst Case in Minnesota
March 15, 2006
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health confirmed that a captive white-tailed deer from Lac Qui Parle County tested positive for CWD. This is the state’s first case of CWD in captive white-tailed deer.
Read moreDiscovery: infectious prions adhere to specific soil minerals where they remain infective.
April 14, 2006
University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers discovered that infectious prions adhere to specific soil minerals where they remain infective.
Read moreStrange Case in New Mexico
July 7, 2006
The New Mexico Game and Fish Department identified CWD in a mule deer on the Stallion site of White Sands Missile Range, 75 miles further north of the state’s northernmost infection area.
Read moreDiscovery: infectious prions are capable of transmitting CWD through saliva and blood.
October 6, 2006
Colorado State University researchers found that infectious prions are capable of transmitting CWD through saliva and blood.
Read moreFirst Case in Alberta
April 5, 2007
The first white-tailed deer to test positive for CWD in Alberta was identified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Read moreE-Book Published
April 5, 2007
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources published an e-book addressing various modeling approaches to describe the spatial epidemiology of CWD.
Read moreDiscovery: the infectivity of prions significantly increases when they are bound to certain soil minerals.
June 13, 2007
Research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison revealed that the infectivity of prions significantly increases when they are bound to certain soil minerals.
Read moreFirst Case in Saskatchewan
July 6, 2007
The first cases of CWD in Saskatchewan’s wild elk population are found in the province’s east-central region.
Read moreNew pre-mortem CWD test for elk Developed
May 15, 2008
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Colorado State University developed a new pre-mortem CWD test for elk.
Read moreFirst Case in Michigan
June 2, 2008
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources detected CWD in a captive white-tailed deer from Kent County. This is state’s first documented case of CWD.
Read moreFirst infected moose found outside of Colorado
August 25, 2008
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department discovered CWD in a wild moose. This is the first time a moose infected with CWD is found outside of Colorado.
Read moreInfected meat found at a farmers market
October 17, 2008
Elk meat sold at a Longmont, Colorado farmers market was found to come from a captive elk infected with CWD.
Read moreDiscovery
December 25, 2008
Researchers found that prions are shed in the feces of early-stage CWD-infected deer.
Read moreGrant Given to CWD Researchers
September 9, 2009
Colorado State University researchers were granted $2.5 million from the National Science Foundation to study transmission of CWD.
Read moreFirst Case in Virginia
January 20, 2010
The first documented case of CWD in Virginia is identified in a wild white-tailed deer.
Read moreFirst Case in Missouri
February 25, 2010
The Missouri Department of Agriculture discovers the state’s first case of CWD in a captive white-tailed deer.
Read moreFirst Case in North Dakota
March 17, 2010
The first documented case of CWD in North Dakota is identified in a wild mule deer.
Read moreFirst Wild Case in Minnesota
January 26, 2011
Minnesota’s first documented case of CWD in a wild cervid is identified in a white-tailed deer.
Read moreFirst Case in Maryland
February 10, 2011
The first documented case of CWD in Maryland is identified in a wild white-tailed deer.
Read moreFirst Free Range Case in Missouri
January 24, 2012
The first cases of CWD in Missouri’s free-ranging cervids are found in two white-tailed deer.
Read moreFirst Case in Texas
July 10, 2012
CWD detected in far west Texas
Read moreFirst Case in Pennsylvania
October 11, 2012
First case of CWD found in captive Pennsylvania deer.
Read moreFirst Case in Iowa
April 9, 2014
Chronic wasting disease detected for first time in wild Iowa deer.
Read moreFirst Free Ranging Case in Michigan
May 26, 2015
Michigan confirms state’s first case of chronic wasting disease in free-ranging white-tailed deer.
Read moreFirst Case of CWD found in Arkansas
October 15, 2015
An elk harvested near Pruitt on the Buffalo National River during the October 2015 hunting season tested positive for chronic wasting disease, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. This is the first time an animal in Arkansas has tested positive for the disease, which is fatal to elk…
Read moreFirst case of CWD in Norway
March 1, 2016
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was diagnosed in March 2016 in a wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) from the Nordfjella mountain area in Norway. This was the first documented case of CWD in Europe.
Read moreFirst Case in Montana
November 15, 2017
A second test on a tissue sample from a buck harvested in hunting district 510, south of Billings, has come back positive for chronic wasting disease. This buck was harvested Oct. 22 about 10 miles southeast of Bridger. Initial testing received by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks last week showed…
Read moreChronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in a Mississippi White-tailed Deer
February 9, 2018
First time an animal in Mississippi tested positive for CWD. A white-tailed deer collected on January 25, 2018, in Issaquena County, Mississippi. Read more
Read moreFirst case in Finland of CWD for Moose
March 8, 2018
The chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been found in a moose or European elk (Alces alces) for the first time ever in Finland.
Read moreIL – First known case of a reindeer being confirmed positive in North America
June 8, 2018
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been identified in one reindeer in a captive herd in northern Illinois. he affected reindeer was sampled on April 23 during a necropsy after the animal died unexpectedly. Tissues for CWD testing were submitted to the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for analysis and the diagnosis…
Read moreFirst case of chronic debilitating disease (CWD) of cervids in Quebec
September 10, 2018
Québec, September 14, 2018 – On September 10, a case of chronic debilitating disease (CWD) of cervids was confirmed in the Laurentides region. This is the first case in Quebec.
Read moreTN – First CWD cases in white-tailed deer in Hardeman and Fayette counties
December 14, 2018
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is enacting the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Response plan, following a preliminary positive detection of CWD in white-tailed deer in Hardeman and Fayette counties. The response plan involves a coordinated effort between TWRA, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and other partners. Seven deer…
Read moreMANITOBA – First CWD detected
October 14, 2021
a male mule deer was observed to be unhealthy and was euthanized in western Manitoba, near Lake of the Prairies. Subsequent testing found the animal to have chronic wasting disease (CWD). Read more…
Read moreID – Chronic Wasting Disease detected in two Idaho mule deer
November 17, 2021
These are the first confirmed positive tests for Chronic Wasting Disease in Idaho Two mule deer bucks harvested during October in the Slate Creek drainage near Lucile in Idaho County tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease, according to Idaho Fish and Game. Under Fish and Game’s CWD strategic plan, both…
Read moreAL – Chronic Wasting Disease Detected in Lauderdale County, Alabama
January 7, 2022
A sample recently collected from a hunter harvested, white-tailed deer in west-central Lauderdale County has been confirmed positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This is the first case of CWD detected in Alabama’s deer herd. “CWD was first detected in Tennessee and Mississippi in 2018 and has been moving slowly…
Read moreJune 15, 2023
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirms first CWD case in Holmes County
Read more