Emergency rules enacted to contain chronic wasting disease

SPOKANE — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has filed multiple emergency rules to help prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease in deer across the state.

Washington’s first case of chronic wasting disease was reported in July in an adult female white-tailed deer found dead in the Fairwood area.

The fatal disease has been documented in wild or captive cervids (deer, elk, moose and caribou) in 34 other states and four Canadian provinces. 

“With the spread of CWD across the country and recent detections in adjacent states and provinces, WDFW has proactively conducted surveillance in this area since 2021,” state Wildlife Program Director Eric Gardner said. “We detected this case because of the surveillance program, and we are immediately reviewing our management plan and the circumstances of this detection.”

The disease is caused by mutated proteins, known as prions, which can contaminate the environment. It is transmitted through feces, saliva and urine.

Most animals with chronic wasting disease appear normal until the end stages, state officials said. It can only be detected through testing lymph nodes and brain tissue.