Chronic wasting disease in cervids

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system that affects cervids such as white-tailed deer and moose. It belongs to the same family as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) in cattle and scrapie in sheep. These diseases are not caused by a virus or bacteria, but rather by the presence of an abnormally formed protein, a prion, in the animal’s body. Abnormal prions accumulate in nerve cells until they burst. As the animal’s nerve cells are destroyed, signs of the disease appear and worsen to the point of causing the animal's death in 100% of cases.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) only affects cervids such as white-tailed deer, red deer, elk, mule deer, moose and caribou.

Currently available data suggests that the probability of a moose becoming infected with CWD is relatively low, unless it shares its territory with another species (e.g., white-tailed deer) in which the disease is well established.

In Québec, cases of CWD were detected in 2018 on a red deer farm in the Laurentides region. Following this discovery, the Gouvernement du Québec implemented measures to protect wild cervid herds and reduce the risk of the disease becoming established in wildlife. Enhanced surveillance has also been put in place to rapidly detect any emergence of the disease in wild cervids in the affected area. No cases of CWD were detected in wild cervids close to the affected farm in 2018. These results lead us to conclude that the risk of the disease being present in wildlife is low. 

We do not know precisely every mode of transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD). The most significant transmission routes would trace back to an environment that is contaminated by urine, feces, saliva or blood from infected animals and direct contact between cervids. The prion is highly resistant and can remain in an environment for several years.

The disease can spread geographically by the movement of live infected cervids, the transportation of carcasses or parts of carcasses of infected cervids and the use of products from infected animals (e.g., urine).

The disease can be transmitted from wild to captive cervids and vice versa. It appears to spread more rapidly in areas where high concentrations of cervids are found, such as on captive facilities and in feeding and baiting areas.

Over the past few decades, the expansion of CWD in North America has accelerated. 

Physical manifestations of CWD typically occur 16 to 36 months after the animal has contracted the disease. During this time, cervids show no signs of the disease, but they can transmit it.

There are no treatments or vaccines for prion diseases. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is always lethal for infected cervids. Death generally occurs within weeks or months following the onset of symptoms.

Once CWD is introduced into a wild population, it is extremely difficult to eliminate.

There is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that chronic wasting disease (CWD) can be transmitted to humans. However, the Government of Canada recommends not to consume the meat or products of an infected animal. Each year, the Gouvernement du Québec analyzes a certain number of cervids. 

It is important to always comply with the best practices for handling and preserving game meat, as well as safety standards for cutting the meat. For more information, you may refer to this document on wild game meat (in French only). At all times, it is recommended not to consume cervid’s brain, spinal cord or lymph nodes. Please note that cooking does not destroy the prion.

CWD is a reportable disease for the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec, the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Animal owners and keepers, veterinarians, and heads of laboratories are required to report this disease. Refer to the Reportable animal diseases page to find out who to contact.

In wild animals

The chronic wasting disease (CWD) invariably kills infected animals and, once established in an area, can significantly impact deer herds, their health, and eventually the viability of local populations. For example, in Wyoming, a 10% per year decrease in the white-tailed deer population has been observed since the disease became established in wildlife.

In Québec, certain measures are in place to prevent the introduction and spread of the disease in the province, such as: 

• the ban on using deer natural urine or any other fluid, excretion or secretion (secretion from orbital glands, tarsal glands, etc.) for hunting purposes, and on selling these products.
• feeding deer, which is authorized only during the hunting season, i.e., from September 1 to November 30.

When cases of CWD are detected in Québec, surveillance and control operations allow to reduce the risk of the disease becoming established in wildlife.

If you are hunting outside of Québec

Avoid hunting in or near areas where CWD was detected. Whole carcasses, as well as some anatomical parts (e.g., brain, spine, eyes, internal organs), cannot be brought back to Québec. Find out more about transporting and import restrictions related to chronic wasting disease in cervids.

If you are notified by authorities in the province or state where you harvested a cervid that your game has CWD, please inform a wildlife protection agent by contacting SOS Poaching – Wildlife Emergency.

To know which states and provinces are affected by CWD, refer to the Distribution of Chronic Wasting Disease in North America map.

In animals kept in farms and other places where animals are kept in captivity

Mandatory surveillance

It is mandatory that all cervids kept in captivity over 12 months of age that are slaughtered or found dead be screened for chronic wasting disease (CWD). 

Certification Program

The Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program (CWD HCP) provides owners with the opportunity to have their herds recognized as elite with respect to CWD. For operators who want to export products or animals outside Québec, the program gives potential buyers the assurance that two herds with the same rating present identical infection risks for the disease. The level of assurance at which the herd is deemed to be free from CWD depends on how much time has elapsed since it was enrolled in the program.

To enroll in the program or for more information, please contact NSF Canada, the regional administrator and status assessor for Québec.

The list of enrolled producers and the documents needed to enroll in the program are available here: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program | NSF.

Movement of captive cervids, embryos, semen, ova and velvet antler 

In order to be moved, live cervids, embryos, semen, ova or velvet antler  must come from a holding site that meets the following criteria:

• no cervids kept in the last 20 years have been tested positive for CWD;
• no cervid currently held is suspected of carrying CWD;
• all cervids slaughtered or found dead on 14 July, 2022 or later have been tested for CWD
• at least one of the following two conditions is met:
  • in the past 6 years, CWD has not been detected in a cervid held in captivity within 45 km of the origin site, or in a cervid living in a natural environment within 100 km;
  • the perimeter of the guard facilities at the origin site prevents any contact with live cervids in the natural environment (e.g., enclosures surrounded by double fencing);
• if cervids were introduced to the origin site within the last 6 years, the sites from which they were introduced met the same criteria as above.

The above criteria do not have to be met if live cervids, embryos, semen, ova or velvet antler are moved out of the province, or if live cervids are moved to a slaughterhouse.

Make sure you comply with federal regulations and obtain the necessary permits and authorizations from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Importation of cervids kept in captivity from other provinces or countries

In the case of the movement of live cervids from outside Québec:

• animals must meet the requirements of the Protocole d’introduction au Québec de cervidés en provenance d’autres provinces ou pays (in French only). Introduction authorizations are issued by the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation.
• the Avis d’importation d’animaux (PDF 283 Kb) (in French only) form must be completed and received at the Direction de la gestion de la faune in your region (in French only) at least 10 working days before the expected arrival of the animals. An attestation from the responsible government authority in the province or country of origin, confirming that the original holding site meets the criteria listed above must accompany the notification of importation.

Importation of embryos, semen, ova and velvet antler from other provinces or countries

The Avis d’importation d’embryons, de semence, d’ovules et de bois de velours (PDF 288 Kb) (in French only), document available shortly) must be completed and received at the Direction de la gestion de la faune in your region (in French only) at least 10 working days before the expected arrival of the merchandise. An attestation from the government authority responsible for the province or country of origin, confirming that the holding site from which the embryos, semen, ova or velvet antler originate meets the criteria listed above, must accompany the notification of importation.

Secure on-farm burial

As of September 1, 2025, on-farm burial of cervids will be permitted only if carried out in a fenced area that is inaccessible to coyotes, bears, wolves, and cervids in the wild.