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Two captive cervid facilities test positive for chronic wasting disease; state offers quarantine options and ongoing surveillance
Summary
Department officials told the committee two captive facilities in Jefferson and Madison counties were recently identified with chronic wasting disease (CWD); the state is using testing, 60‑month quarantines and amended movement rules to let affected producers continue some business activity under management plans.
Dr. Scott Lively told the House Agricultural Affairs Committee that Idaho had identified two new chronic wasting disease (CWD) cases in captive cervid facilities — one in Jefferson County and one in Madison County — found through required surveillance testing after the animals died.
Lively said the state's domestic cervid surveillance program has been under the department for about 30 years and that the first wild case in Idaho was detected in fall 2021 (Slate Creek area in north‑central Idaho). Since that fall, he told the committee there have been roughly 63 wild cases in the state. The two recent captive positives were identified through post‑mortem testing, not because the animals had shown clinical CWD symptoms; “neither of the animals that died were exhibiting symptoms of chronic wasting disease,” Lively said.
Key actions and options for producers - A statutory amendment enacted in the previous year allows producers who operate multiple facilities under common ownership to move quarantined animals between those facilities; Lively said that change gives producers additional options to continue operations while under quarantine. - The department places affected facilities on management plans and requires surveillance testing of animals that die; the standard quarantine period cited was 60 months.
Why it matters: CWD is a prion disease that affects cervids and can have long‑term impacts on commerce and captive operations. Lively said the disease is difficult to detect in live animals because a validated live test is not yet available and that research into live diagnostics and genetic markers is ongoing.
Research and mitigation - Lively said researchers and producers are exploring genetic selection approaches similar to sheep‑scrapie resistance programs but cautioned there is not an established “silver bullet.” He noted that animals with certain genetic markers may show more resistance but are not guaranteed immune. - He said the department has received interest from research groups to develop live tests in Idaho because defined captive populations isolated from wildlife exposure present opportunities for validation.
Ending: Lively told lawmakers the department will continue testing, manage quarantines under USDA program rules, and work with producers to limit spread while preserving viable business options where possible.
