Chronic wasting disease confirmed near Scofield for first time, spreads to new areas of Uintah County

A mule deer exhibiting symptoms of chronic wasting disease. Photo: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

UTAH — Chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in deer near Scofield for the first time, marking a new area of spread in Utah, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

The disease, commonly known as CWD, was first detected in Utah mule deer in 2002 near Vernal. Wildlife officials now say it has spread to the Scofield area of Carbon County and to additional areas of Uintah County, including the Little Mountain, Pine Ridge, and Dry Fork regions.

Between July 1, 2025, and Feb. 23, 2026, DWR biologists collected 2,126 samples for CWD testing statewide. Of those, 1,479 samples came from hunter-harvested animals during fall check stations. Eighty-three animals tested positive for the disease, including 46 submitted by hunters.

The number of confirmed cases is slightly lower than the previous hunting season, when 98 positive cases were documented. However, officials say the discovery of CWD in new geographic areas is concerning.

“The DWR monitors for the spread of chronic wasting disease in big game animals across Utah and conducts check stations each fall during the general-season rifle deer hunts to test harvested deer in specific hunting units,” DWR State Wildlife Veterinarian Ginger Stout said. “The samples taken from deer during last fall’s check stations were sent to the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Logan, and we recently received the last test results.”

As of Feb. 23, a total of 435 mule deer and 11 elk have tested positive for CWD in Utah. The disease is currently found in portions of northern, northeastern, central and southeastern Utah.

“We are continuing to do extensive monitoring and trying different hunting strategies to stay on top of the disease and its prevalence in the state,” Stout said.

What is chronic wasting disease?

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological illness that affects large game such as deer, elk, and moose. It is caused by a misfolded protein known as a prion, which accumulates in the brain and spinal cord. Similar prion diseases include “mad cow disease” in cattle and scrapie in sheep.

Infected animals may develop brain lesions, lose weight, appear listless, droop their ears, and salivate excessively. Ultimately, the disease is always fatal. However, deer in the early stages of CWD often appear healthy, making testing the only way to confirm infection.

Prions can be shed in urine, feces, and saliva, even before symptoms appear. Transmission can occur through direct contact between animals or indirectly through contaminated soil and environments. Prions are highly resilient and can remain infectious in the environment for years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of CWD transmission to humans is considered extremely low. However, health officials recommend that hunters do not consume meat from animals that test positive for the disease.

DWR encourages hunters to submit harvested deer for testing and asks the public to report any deer that appear sick to their nearest DWR office.