Another Mississippi county going into CWD zone, more may follow as cases in deer spike

Brian Broom, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·4 min read
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Chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in another Mississippi county and it will be included in the North Mississippi Management Zone.

If the current CWD management plan is followed, two additional counties will also be included in the management zone as cases continue to rise.

"It was an adult doe that was killed right after Christmas," said Russ Walsh, Wildlife chief of staff, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. "It was in the southeast part of Tunica County on private land."

A tissue sample taken from the deer was initially tested for the disease in Mississippi and the result was positive. Sample tissue was then sent to the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory where it was tested again and confirmed positive.

Cases of CWD are rising in Mississippi and more counties are expected to be added to the North Mississippi Management Zone.
Cases of CWD are rising in Mississippi and more counties are expected to be added to the North Mississippi Management Zone.

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The number of CWD cases found each year is increasing

Sampling years for the disease run from July 1-June 30. So far, in the 2023 sampling year, 79 cases have been detected according to MDWFP data. In that same period, 7,374 deer were tested.

In the 2022 sample year, 45 cases were detected out of 7,108 samples. In the 2021 sample year, there were 28 cases out of 7,312 samples tested.

While the number of tissue samples taken from deer and tested have remained relatively steady, the number of cases detected each year are seeing notable increases year over year.

A total of 206 cases have been detected since the disease was first found in Mississippi in 2018. The disease affects deer and other cervids and is always fatal.

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Here are the numbers of samples and CWD cases in Mississippi by year

  • Sample year 2019: 18 cases, 8,024 samples tested

  • Sample year 2020: 35 cases, 8,515 samples tested

  • Sample year 2021: 28 cases, 7,312 samples tested

  • Sample year 2022: 45 cases, 7,108 samples tested

  • Sample year 2023: 79 cases, 7,374 samples tested, so far

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Here's why the case numbers are higher

Walsh said part of the reason for the increase in annual positives is due to how samples are collected. In recent years, more samples have been collected by taxidermists at the customers' request. Those samples generally come from mature bucks, which are more likely to carry the disease.

Another part of the explanation is simply that the disease is spreading.

"We're seeing an increase in prevalence, especially in the Marshall County area," Walsh said.

Under the CWD Management Plan, any county located within 10 miles of where a CWD-positive deer is found will be included in a CWD management zone. In the case of the Tunica County case, two more counties should go into the North CWD Management Zone.

Walsh said the deer was located 2 miles from Quitman County and about 5 miles from Coahoma County. Including Tunica County, that would bring the total number of counties in CWD management zones to 16 along with a portion of another county. Affected counties have special regulations regarding deer such as a ban on supplemental feeding.

Counties currently in CWD management zones

  • Alcorn

  • Benton

  • Claiborne (see note below)

  • Desoto

  • Issaquena

  • Lafayette

  • Marshall

  • Panola

  • Prentiss

  • Tate

  • Tippah

  • Tishomingo

  • Union

  • Warren

Note: All portions of Claiborne County located west of the Mississippi River are included. The remainder of the county east of the Mississippi River is not in a CWD management zone.

So, what's next?

Sample year 2023 is still ongoing, so it will be several months before additions to CWD management zones will be officially announced.

"Official zone changes happen in July," Walsh said. "If there are any changes, it will happen July 1.

"We still have samples coming in from various places. We're weekly sending samples out. Something could certainly change in the next month, for sure."

Walsh also asked for hunters to continue to fight the spread of the disease by adhering to CWD management zone regulations and having deer tested.

"These things are critical in the management of this disease," Walsh said. "This disease is going to continue to move. Keep testing."

Contact Brian Broom at bbroom@gannett.com or 601-961-7225.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Cases of CWD in Mississippi deer on the rise