Chronic Wasting Disease Detected in Far West Texas

Samples from two mule deer recently taken from far West Texas have been confirmed to have Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

These are the first cases of CWD detected in Texas deer.

Wildlife officials believe the disease is currently isolated in a remote part of the state near the New Mexico Border.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Animal Health Commission implemented regionally-focused collection efforts after the disease was in detected in Southwest New Mexico during the 2011-2012 hunting season.

Both of the deer were taken from the Hueco Mountains of northern El Paso and Hudspeth counties.

CWD is a progressive and fatal disease that commonly results in altered behavior due to microscopic changes in the brain of affected animals and they can carry the disease for years without any indication.

CWD is not known to affect humans.