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Deer Disease

No Chronic Wasting Disease found in Enderby-area deer

Dec 8, 2025 | 6:49 PM

Testing has come back and found negative results of a suspected case of disease that affects deer and similar species near Enderby.

On November 24, the B.C. Government said a potential case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was suspected in a deer harvested in the Enderby area. The alert was issued after an initial screening test by the B.C. Animal Health Centre showed a “non-negative” finding from the sample, meaning the disease could not definitively be ruled out.

The sample was sent for further testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and, after three separate tests, the laboratory confirmed that the sample was negative for the disease.

“While this result is negative, CWD remains a serious concern in B.C. and does not change the confirmed presence of CWD within the provincial CWD management zone in the Kootenay region,” the province said in a release.

“Hunters remain essential partners in B.C.’s CWD surveillance efforts. People are strongly encouraged to continue submitting samples from deer, elk and moose harvested anywhere in B.C. to help determine where the disease is present and to detect new cases as early as possible.”

There have been no confirmed cases of CWD being transmitted to humans, but the province and health authorities recommend people do not eat meat or other parts of animals infected by the disease.

The province said it would continue to monitor the six confirmed cases of CWD in the Kootenays and that it remains focused on limiting further transmission.

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