Tests are the key to stopping the spread of MDC

KX News provides you with continued coverage of the spread of Chronic Debilitating Disease (CDD) in the Midwest.

MDC is a rare but progressive disorder that affects deer, elk and moose. Symptoms include weight loss, heckling and apathy.

It's been 10 years in North Dakota and, for the moment, it's limited to parts of Grant, Sioux and Divide counties.

We recently discussed with a wildlife veterinarian what hunters can do to help prevent the spread of CWD.

The most important thing is to test the whole deer – including the head – before handing it over to the meat processor.

Health professionals say CWD can pose a serious threat to our deer population.

"It's almost like science fiction, but it's not caused by a virus or bacteria, what we normally think about diseases, it's actually caused by a prion that's a bit like that. kind of non-living quasi- chemical substance that is very difficult to deactivate, "said Charlie Bahnson, veterinarian.

It has barely a foot in North Dakota – less than 1 percent of deer in the state have CWD.

We are told that the possibility of catching the disease is extremely small.