Chronic Wasting Disease in Kentucky, officials await results

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Chronic Wasting Disease, a neurodegenerative disease that can be found in deer, recently showed up in Kentucky.

News 40 spoke to the state veterinarian with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife, who said the disease is fatal in all deer, elk and animals alike that get infected. Back in 2021, a deer was found near the state line on the Tennessee side which promoted Kentucky’s Department of Fish & Wildlife to set up some “survey zones”. These five counties in western Kentucky have increased focus on detecting disease in the deer population with hunters sending in samples during hunting season to be tested.

Dr. Christine Casey with Fish & Wildlife told the station that while only one case has been caught in Ballard County, the incubation period for the disease is around 16 months; so while they are hopeful they’ve caught the disease early, the possibility for more cases to appear is there.

Right now, the department is awaiting the results of some other samples but Dr. Casey said as hunting season comes to a close, to keep your eyes open. If you happen to see a deer acting strangely or looking sickly, contact Fish & Wildlife immediately.