Human Health & CWD

Can CWD Infect People?

To date, there have been no known cases of CWD infection in people. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that hunters in areas where CWD is found take the following precautions:

• Strongly consider having harvested deer or elk tested before eating the meat.
• Do not eat meat from an animal that tests positive for CWD.
• Do not shoot, handle, or eat meat from a deer or elk that looks sick, is acting strangely, or was found dead.
  • When field-dressing a deer or elk or when handling meat from the animal:
    • Wear latex or rubber gloves
    • Avoid handling its internal organs, especially the brain or spine
    • Do not use knives or other tools you use in your kitchen
• If you have your deer or elk commercially processed, consider asking that your animal be processed individually to avoid mixing meat from multiple animals.

See our Voluntary CWD Sampling page for more information on statewide voluntary CWD sampling and testing during deer season.

Processing Your Deer

Hunters and commercial processors can get information and recommendations for processing deer in CWD-positive areas from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services