A captive deer herd in north-central Iowa was placed under quarantine after a deer harvested from that herd tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. Dustin Vande Hoef with the Iowa Department of Agriculture says the results from testing found that nearly 80 percent of that herd was infected with the fatal neurological disease.

While all of Iowa’s bordering states have experienced cases of CWD in wild herds, the state just confirmed its first case in April of this year. Kevin Baskins with the Department of Natural Resources says the disease is more prevalent in captive herds.

CWD is fairly easily transmitted between deer and Baskins says the more testing the DNR can do, the better it can be monitored and prevented.

 

The disease is spread through common feeding areas and contact between animals.