The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Animal Health Commission have announced the first cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Edwards County, with two deer at a breeding facility testing positive for the illness.

The infected does, both two years old, were identified through mandatory surveillance testing, despite the disease's lengthy incubation period which can last for years making it a challenge, since infected animals often don't exhibit symptoms until the disease has significantly progressed, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The discovery comes after samples taken from these deer were first checked by the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) and later confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Iowa.

Following the initial detection, prompt action was taken to euthanize deer that were in close quarters with the affected does, these measures resulted in three additional deer testing positive for CWD, as per the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

CWD is a fatal neurological condition affecting various members of the deer family, including deer, elk, and moose, and while it can lay dormant for years, eventually animals exhibit noticeable symptoms such as significant weight loss, coordination issues, and changing behaviors, including increased thirst and salivation, all of which signal the disease's advance. First spotted in Texas back in 2012 among wild mule deer, CWD has since been found in several species within the state's captive and wild cervid populations.