As we reported last month, there has never been a confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Iowa. CWD is a fatal disease that affects deer, elk and moose, and causes microscopic holes to form in the animals’ heads.
On Tuesday the Missouri Department of Conservation confirmed that two deer found near the border of Missouri and Iowa tested positive for CWD.
4,500 samples collected in Iowa during 2011 are currently being tested for the disease.
Read the Iowa Department of Natural Resources press release here.
Iowa Environmental Focus 
I’ve never heard about chronic wasting disease before, how awful for the deer – I can’t imagine what it is like to have holes form in their heads, especially in this cold. I am wondering what causes this to happen, I’ll have to go search it online.
Tammy,
Here’s a quote from the Iowa DNR press release that helps explain the disease:
“An abnormal protein agent, called a prion, causes normal proteins of the brain to take on a different shape and form microscopic holes in the brains of infected animals.”
Best,
Michael