First Known Case of Chronic Wasting Disease Detected in Florida in White-Tailed Deer

The chronic wasting disease affects the brain and central nervous system and is always fatal to members of the deer family

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The first known case of CWD in Florida has been confirmed in a white-tailed deer collected from Holmes County.

The chronic wasting disease affects the brain and central nervous system and is always fatal to members of the deer family.

Currently, there is no scientific evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans or livestock under natural conditions. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend consuming meat from animals that test positive for CWD or from any sick animal.

If you see a sick, abnormally thin deer or find a deer dead from unknown causes, please call the CWD hotline, 866-CWD-WATCH (866-293-9282) and report the animal’s location.

Florida is the most recent of 31 states to detect the disease. Since 2002, more than 17,500 deer have been tested for the disease in Florida.

The FWC along with our partners take CWD very seriously and have implemented a comprehensive response plan.

As part of the plan, samples will be collected from specific established zones to further assess the spread of the disease and we will continue to update the public as more information becomes available.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com/CWD .

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