Deer Disease Surveillance: CWD, TB and Welfare Impacts

Chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis in wild deer populations create serious welfare concerns alongside biosecurity risks to livestock and public health.

Key Facts

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal prion disease affecting deer, elk and moose in North America
CWD has not yet been detected in Europe or UK but is considered a significant biosecurity threat
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) affects wild deer in the UK, particularly in bTB high-risk areas
Infected deer suffer progressive wasting, neurological decline, weakness and death from CWD
bTB causes respiratory disease, lesions and progressive debilitation in affected deer
Disease surveillance relies on sampling during culling seasons and submission of suspect animals

Welfare Considerations

Disease surveillance in wild deer serves both biosecurity and welfare functions. Deer suffering from late-stage CWD or advanced tuberculosis experience progressive, debilitating disease causing chronic pain, neurological symptoms, starvation and immune compromise. Early detection through surveillance allows for population management interventions that may reduce the burden of disease-related suffering in wild populations. In the UK context, the interface between wild deer and livestock bTB transmission is also a welfare issue for both cattle and deer - infected animals on both sides suffer the consequences of uncontrolled disease spread.

What You Can Do

Support funding for wild deer disease surveillance programmes
Learn about CWD and the biosecurity measures preventing its introduction to the UK
Report deer showing signs of disease or unusual behaviour to relevant authorities
Understand the complexity of wildlife disease management and its welfare dimensions