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News Brief
April 21, 2025
The MDC has confirmed new cases of CWD
The Missouri Department of Conservation has confirmed 243 new cases of chronic wasting disease—also known as CWD—in deer across 35 counties. Seven counties reported their first cases, including Audrain, Callaway, Lewis, Marion, Miller, Morgan, and Texas.
The positive cases came from testing more than 36,000 deer during the 2024-2025 hunting season, with most samples submitted by hunters. Another 70 cases were found through targeted post-season removal of nearly 4,800 deer in areas where CWD had already been detected.
CWD is a fatal disease that affects white-tailed deer and threatens Missouri’s 1.5 million deer population, as well as the state’s hunting culture and outdoor economy.
Since 2012, Missouri has confirmed 815 cases in 46 counties. Still, MDC officials say infection rates remain low—under 1%—thanks to ongoing management and help from hunters and landowners.
