Chronic wasting disease found in deer across more parts of Utah
KSL.com • • health
Key Points:
- Utah wildlife officials have detected the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological illness affecting deer, elk, and moose, to new areas near Scofield and Uintah County.
- Since July 2023, over 2,100 big game samples were tested, with 83 positive cases identified, including 46 from hunter-submitted samples, though the total number of positives has decreased compared to the previous year.
- CWD is caused by prions that accumulate in the brain and spinal cord, leading to fatal brain lesions, and is transmitted through bodily fluids such as urine, feces, and saliva.
- Officials are conducting extensive monitoring and adjusting hunting strategies to manage the disease, which has been found in
