Chronic wasting disease: what cervid producers should know
To learn more about signs, transmission and diagnosis of CWD, visit Chronic wasting disease of deer and elk.
On this page
- Protecting Canadian farmed cervids from CWD
- CFIA response to outbreaks of CWD in Canadian farmed cervids
- Evolution of CFIA's CWD disease response
- Additional information
Protecting Canadian farmed cervids from CWD
The management of CWD in farmed cervids in Canada is a joint responsibility of farmed cervid producers, provinces/territories and the federal government. CWD is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act in Canada. This means that, by law, all cervids suspected of being infected with CWD must be reported by animal owners, veterinarians and laboratories to a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) district veterinarian.
- To report a suspected case of CWD, contact your local CFIA animal health office
- Learn about other measures being taken to protect farmed cervids from CWD
- Contact your local CFIA animal health office to learn about other federal regulations Canadian cervid producers must follow, including movement permit requirements
CFIA response to outbreaks of CWD in Canada
The CFIA investigates all suspected cases of CWD. If the CFIA determines that CWD may be a cause of disease, the affected animal(s) may be ordered destroyed.
A confirmed positive CWD case triggers the CFIA's CWD disease response. Response policy depends on whether a herd is enrolled in a CWD herd certification program (CWD HCP) and response actions may vary from case to case. Only herds that are enrolled at level D or higher and are found by CFIA to be compliant with all CWD risk mitigation measures are eligible for CFIA's CWD compartment response.
Herds that are not enrolled in a CWD HCP will be placed under initial movement controls and restrictions will be placed on movement of live cervids, cervid products and by-products into the marketplace. In addition, the CFIA will investigate trace-in and trace-out animals. Provinces and territories may have their own disease control requirements and measures.
Producers whose animals are ordered destroyed may be eligible for compensation.
Learn more about what to expect if your animals may be infected.
Evolution of CFIA's CWD disease response
The CFIA implemented a CWD eradication policy in 2000 after the first detection of CWD in a farmed cervid in Canada. Wild and farmed cases of CWD have continued to increase despite the CFIA's aggressive attempts to eradicate it. CFIA determined that eradication measures, using quarantines and stamping-out actions in areas where the disease is established in wild cervids, are both ineffective and unsustainable.
Based on the scientific information available at the time, a decision was made to shift from an eradication policy to one of control.
The CFIA's current approach to disease control was fully implemented in 2019 and is based on the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) concept of compartmentalization. Compartmentalization identifies a group of animals having a distinct health status based on biosecurity management and husbandry practices. Herds enrolled in a CWD HCP and are compliant at level D or higher are recognized as participant in Canada's domestic CWD compartment program.
Promoting compartmentalization in CFIA's disease control program supports producers who are taking measures to keep CWD out of their cervid herds.
Additional information
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