Chronic wasting disease detected in north Idaho, local officials continue monitoring efforts

A dead deer in north Idaho was confirmed to be sick with chronic wasting disease, according to a press release from Idaho Fish and Game last week. The always-fatal disease is contagious to other animals and has no cure.

The positive test is the first known case in north Idaho. The first known case of the disease in the entire state was in 2021.

While cases are now only confirmed in northern and western Idaho, local officials are still concerned as neighboring Montana and Wyoming do have confirmed cases.

“It’s been very close to us,” said James Bower, the local regional communications manager for Idaho Fish and Game. “We haven’t detected it in this part of the state as of yet, but we will continue monitoring closely and ask hunters to provide us with those voluntary samples.”

Bower said monitoring relies on voluntary samples from hunters. Every hunting season Fish and Game has check stations for hunters to have carcasses tested. Free kits for hunters to collect samples themselves are also available on the Fish and Game website.

Bower said it’s important to note meat can’t be tested. Samples must come from either a lymph node or brain stem.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey the disease is caused by a misfolded protein called a prion. The prions tend to accumulate in and damage lymph nodes and the brain.

Symptoms of chronic wasting disease include excessive salivation, drooping head/ears, tremors, extremely low body weight, and unusual behavior, such as showing no fear of humans and lack of coordination, according to Idaho Fish and Game.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends people don’t eat meat from animals with chronic wasting disease, though there aren’t reports of the disease spreading to humans.