Potential Spread of Deadly Deer Disease Raises Alarm in B.C.
British Columbia's wildlife authorities are on high alert as a potentially seventh case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) may have been detected outside the province's existing management zone. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is currently conducting conclusive tests on a sample taken from a male white-tailed deer shot by a hunter east of Enderby in the Okanagan region.
Confirmed Cases and New Threat
According to the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, an initial test indicated the deer could have contracted the infectious and deadly disease. This development is particularly concerning because all six confirmed CWD cases in B.C. since 2024 have been contained within the Kootenay region. The ministry explicitly stated this marks the first potential detection in the Okanagan and the first identified outside the established CWD management zone.
The provincial wildlife veterinarian has assembled an incident management team including provincial and First Nation partners to prepare for potential next steps ahead of the CFIA's final test results, which are expected next week.
Provincial Response and Public Safety
While chronic wasting disease does not spread to humans, health authorities strongly advise against consuming meat from infected animals. The province has implemented several measures to manage the disease's spread:
- Removal and testing of urban deer in Cranbrook and Kimberley
- Mandatory testing for harvested deer, moose and elk in the Kootenay region
- Carcass transport restrictions
- Ongoing monitoring collaborations with First Nations and local governments
B.C. hunters are being encouraged to participate in the province's chronic wasting disease mitigation program by providing samples for testing from thin deer, elk and moose. This collaborative approach aims to detect and contain the disease before it spreads further through provincial wildlife populations.
