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CONCORDIA PARISH, La. – Three additional cases of Chronic Wasting Disease – including one in Concordia Parish – have been found in Louisiana, and a surveillance zone now includes Adams County.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries alerting the public about three additional positive cases among captive deer in pens permitted by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

The recent detections in Concordia, St. Landry and Tangipahoa parishes are linked to trace outs from a captive CWD positive deer pen in Jefferson Davis Parish, where CWD was first confirmed in a captive deer in November 2024. The LDWF also reported confirmed CWD cases at deer farms in Concordia, St. Landry and Tangipahoa parishes in January.

In additional to the recent detections, deer from the CWD positive pens have been traced to permitted pens in 11 other parishes.

The recent captive CWD detections has prompted concern due to potential spillover into the wild deer population. The suggested surveillance zone for the wild deer herd extends from Concordia parish to Adams and Wilkinson counties in Mississippi.

At this time, the disease has not been detected in the wild population in any of the parishes with CWD positive deer pens and associated trace outs.  Prevention is paramount in combatting this disease. Hunters can play a vital role in reporting CWD suspect deer.

CWD is a neurodegenerative disease of white-tailed deer and other members of the family Cervidae. It is caused by a prion, an infectious, misfolded protein particle, and is 100% fatal in affected deer after an indeterminate incubation period. There is no treatment or preventative vaccine for CWD.

CWD-infected deer may exhibit signs of weight loss and emaciation, excessive salivation, frequent drinking and urination, incoordination, circling and lack of fear of people and always results in death of the animal.