The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is providing $9.4 million to 26 states and 6 tribes or tribal organizations to further develop and implement Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) management and response activities in wild and farmed cervids (e.g., deer, elk). The funding will also allow tribes to submit samples for testing at no cost.

“APHIS relies on close collaboration with our state and tribal partners to safeguard U.S. agriculture and natural resources, and controlling and preventing Chronic Wasting Disease in our nation’s farmed and wild cervids is an increasingly important task,” said Kevin Shea, APHIS administrator. “These collaborative efforts will strengthen our ability to find and implement new solutions.”

State departments of agriculture, state animal health agencies, state departments of wildlife or natural resources, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments and organizations were eligible to submit proposals that further develop and implement CWD management, response, and research activities, including surveillance and testing. The opportunity also supported the use of education and outreach activities to increase awareness about the disease and how it spreads. APHIS gave priority to state and tribal governments that have already detected CWD or border CWD endemic areas; and have either implemented monitoring and surveillance programs or propose to do so.

APHIS based its funding allocations on priorities that were collaboratively established with state agricultural and wildlife representatives, tribal officials and the cervid industry. Those priorities are:

APHIS received 56 proposals. To evaluate the projects, APHIS conducted scientific and program panel reviews of the proposals and worked with submitting entities where needed to refine the scope of the most promising projects.

CWD is an infectious, degenerative disease of cervids that causes brain cells to die, ultimately leading to the death of the affected animal. New tools and approaches will enable improved management of wild and farmed cervids at risk for the disease.