3 cases of chronic wasting disease confirmed in white-tailed deer, Indiana DNR says

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has confirmed three positive cases of chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer found in Noble, Rush, and Franklin counties.

The three deer were identified during the 2025-2026 hunting season, officials said in a release sent Monday morning. There have been no cases reported in humans.

Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, is a neurological disease caused by a misfolded prion that damages the animal’s nervous system. “Animals in the late stages of CWD can experience drastic weight loss and show abnormal changes in behavior,” Indiana DNR said.

The disease spreads through deer-to-dder contact, and can contaminate the soil the many years.

According to a release, the infected deer found in Noble County was located near a preestablished CWD Positive Area Zone. This area has been expanded to include Allen, DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, and Whitley counties.

DNR asks hunters, as a precautionary measure, to have their legally harvested deer tested by Department of Natural Resources officials and to not eat infected deer.

“Hunters play an important role in helping Indiana DNR monitor CWD in the deer herd,” Joe Caudell, a deer biologist with Indiana DNR, said. “With their support, we are gaining a better understanding of the extent of this disease across the state.”

For more information on chronic wasting disease, how to submit deer samples, or how to report sick or deceased, visit the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ website.

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