The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has confirmed that a road-killed 4.5 year-old female white-tailed deer in Holmes County sampled during routine surveillance activities has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD). It is the first known case of CWD in Florida. CWD is a contagious disease of the brain and central nervous system that is always fatal to deer.
Learn more about Chronic Wasting Disease
The FWC and its agency partners take CWD very seriously and have implemented a comprehensive response plan with the goal of containing the disease within the area it was detected. As part of the plan, the FWC will collect samples from specific established zones to further assess the spread of the disease. The results from this initial sampling effort will inform resource managers so they can react with appropriate management strategies.
Learn more about FWC’s CWD Monitoring Program
End of article. Article courtesy of The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Full article can be read here: https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/health/white-tail-deer/cwd/florida/.