Two hundred forty-three new cases of Chronic Wasting Disease have been confirmed in deer in Missouri over the past year.
The Department of Conservation says the CWD-positive cases were found during the 2024-25 deer hunting seasons in Missouri, with most of them from harvested deer brought in by hunters. Seventy cases were confirmed during targeted removal efforts outside of hunting seasons.
The 243 cases came from 35 Missouri counties, including seven that reported the disease for the first time – Audrain, Callaway, Lewis, Marion, Miller, Morgan and Texas counties.
CWD is a contagious brain disease in deer and over cervids that’s 100% fatal and is spread through direct contact. The disease is not considered widespread in Missouri, but Conservation leaders warn that if it does it could “significantly affect” Missouri’s deer population, economy, and hunting culture.
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