New case of chronic wasting disease discovered in deer in Southeast B.C.

Today, the Province of B.C. announced the confirmation of another case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the Kootenays. CWD is a fatal infection that affects the deer family, including mule and white-tailed deer, elk, moose and caribou. In January, CWD was detected for the first time in B.C. in two deer in the East Kootenays.

Deer with CWD often appear healthy until very late stages of the disease where they are unsteady, stumbling and are often very thin. The disease is difficult to manage and nearly impossible to eradicate. While no cases of the disease have been documented in people, it is not known if the disease can be transmitted to humans. 

SFU assistant professor Kaylee Byers is the regional deputy director of the B.C. node of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and collaborates with the Wildlife Health Program in the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, which leads CWD surveillance in the province. 

Byers can speak about the implications of CWD's appearance in B.C., the importance hunter participation in surveillance and the difficulties managing and eradicating the disease.

AVAILABLE SFU EXPERT

KAYLEE BYERS, assistant professor, health sciences  
kbyers@sfu.ca
Expertise: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing and management in cervids, including mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose, elk and caribou; wildlife health; wildlife management.

CONTACT

JEFF HODSON, SFU Communications & Marketing 
jdhodson@sfu.ca

Simon Fraser University
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778.782.3210

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