The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is experiencing significant testing delays for chronic wasting disease (CWD) due to a national shortage of test kits. Approximately 2,180 Tennessee CWD samples are currently backlogged until additional test kits become available.
TWRA says samples will be held at the lab until they are able to be processed, and TWRA recommends hunters keep venison packaged separately in the freezer until test results have been returned.
There have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, to be as safe as possible and decrease the potential risk of exposure to CWD, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises individuals not to eat the meat from an animal that tests positive for CWD. More information about CWD is available at www.CWDinTennessee.com.