DNR to host public meetings to discuss chronic wasting disease

DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has scheduled public meetings in Leon, West Union and Decorah after hunter harvested deer in Decatur, Fayette and Winneshiek counties tested positive for chronic wasting disease. It is the first time deer have tested positive in these counties.

Meetings are scheduled for:

• March 10, 7 p.m., in the Central Decatur CSD, 1201 NE Poplar, in Leon
• March 25, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Holy Name Catholic Church Meeting Hall, 128 North Walnut Street, in West Union
• March 26, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Valders Hall of Science Room 206, 700 College Drive, Luther College, in Decorah

Chronic wasting disease is a neurological disease belonging to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or prion diseases. It attacks the brain of infected deer and elk causing the animals to lose weight, display abnormal behavior, lose body functions and die. It is always fatal to the infected animal.

The Iowa DNR has tested nearly 74,000 deer tissue samples for chronic wasting disease since monitoring began in 2002. The disease first appeared in Iowa’s wild deer herd in 2013. So far, there have been 89 positive tests.