“Zombie Deer Disease” Confirmed in Mississippi, Triggering State Emergency Plan
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI - October 19, 2025 – Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal neurological condition affecting deer, elk, and moose-often referred to as “zombie deer disease”-has been detected again in Mississippi, prompting an immediate emergency response from state wildlife officials. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife,fisheries,and Parks (MDWFP) confirmed the latest case in a deer harvested in Issaquena County on October 15,2025. This marks the third confirmed case of CWD in the state as its initial discovery in february 2024, raising concerns about the disease’s potential spread and impact on the state’s deer population and hunting economy.
CWD poses a important threat to Mississippi’s wildlife and the $1.8 billion hunting-related economic impact it generates annually. The disease, caused by misfolded proteins called prions, deteriorates the brain tissue of infected animals, leading to emaciation, abnormal behaviour, loss of coordination, and ultimately, death. While there have been no reported cases of CWD transmission to humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Institution (WHO) advise against consuming meat from animals known to be infected. The MDWFP’s emergency response plan focuses on enhanced surveillance,increased testing of harvested deer,and implementing stricter regulations to limit the disease’s further dissemination.
The MDWFP is implementing a CWD Control Plan within a five-mile radius of the Issaquena County detection. This includes intensified surveillance efforts, requiring hunters to submit samples from harvested deer for testing.Additional measures include restrictions on the movement of deer carcasses and the prohibition of supplemental feeding, which can concentrate deer populations and facilitate disease transmission. Hunters are urged to report any deer exhibiting signs of CWD, such as excessive drooling, difficulty walking, or unusual behavior.
“We are taking this situation very seriously,” stated MDWFP Executive Director, Dr. Laura Newman, in a press release issued October 18, 2025. “Our priority is to protect Mississippi’s deer population and the hunting heritage that is so crucial to our state. We need the cooperation of hunters and landowners to effectively monitor and manage this disease.”
The MDWFP is working with the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) at the University of Georgia to conduct CWD testing and provide technical assistance. Further information about CWD, testing locations, and the MDWFP’s response plan can be found on the department’s website: https://www.mdwfp.com/. Hunters are encouraged to stay informed and follow all guidelines to help prevent the spread of this devastating disease.
