Georgia confirms second Chronic Wasting Disease case in deer

Georgia wildlife officials have confirmed a second case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a white-tailed deer in Berrien County, located about 400 yards from the state's first detected case earlier this year. CWD is a fatal neurological disease affecting deer, elk, and moose, caused by infectious prions, and it leads to severe physical and behavioral deterioration in affected animals. In response, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has established a CWD Management Area in Lanier and Berrien counties to monitor and limit the disease's spread, collaborating closely with landowners and hunters for ongoing sampling and population management. There is currently no evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans, but the CDC recommends hunters in affected areas test their game before consuming the meat. The DNR also urges hunters to avoid moving live deer and to dispose of carcasses properly to reduce further risk of transmission. These efforts aim to ensure the health of Georgia’s deer population and to prevent the wider spread of CWD within the state.