Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was recently detected in a captive red deer herd in New York, marking the first known case of the disease in New York in nearly 20 years. Because CWD can affect both captive and wild deer, understanding how it appeared is essential for protecting wildlife, agriculture, and the people who rely on venison as a food source.
Our research aims to uncover where this outbreak originated. We're studying whether the disease was introduced from an outside source, persisted undetected in the environment or wild deer, or emerged through another pathway. To answer these questions, we're combining genetics, disease diagnostics, environmental testing, and wildlife surveillance to better understand how CWD spreads and how to detect it.
The results will provide important information for wildlife managers, veterinarians, and state agencies working to prevent future outbreaks. They will also help improve disease surveillance, inform food safety recommendations, and support science-based decisions that protect New York's deer populations, agricultural communities, and natural resources.
Beyond this specific outbreak, the project will expand our understanding of prion diseases and help strengthen New York's ability to respond to emerging wildlife health challenges in the future.