A comprehensive approach to halt chronic wasting disease transmission

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We have a small-and shrinking-window of opportunity to save some of Canada's best-known animals. Cervids (deer, elk, moose, caribou) play an important role in the health and ecological balance of their environment. However, their numbers are threatened by chronic wasting disease (CWD), a highly contagious, brain-destroying disease spreading across North America and Northern Europe, in both farmed and wild cervid herds. Infected cervids shed prions (the infectious proteins responsible for CWD) onto the ground, which remains contaminated for over 10 years and infects other animals during that time. Killing or reducing herds is emotionally and politically unpopular and has limited effects on transmission. CWD could infect and kill many of Canada's 2 million cervids. This would hurt those who rely on cervids for food and culture, and damage ecosystems, biodiversity, the economy and potentially human health.With our government and industry partners, we will develop a comprehensive set of tools to protect cervids from CWD by vaccination and reducing environmental prion load. Specifically, we will develop a vaccine and test it in deer; investigate whether vaccination affects the development of new prion variants; find out if vaccines, genetic resistance and less prions in the ground are effective together, and if more cervids survive as a result; and work with stakeholders and Indigenous communities to ensure the most acceptance for these strategies.CWD is not likely to be eliminated but it can be contained and its impact reduced. Implementation of our approaches will restrict the geographical spread of CWD and the species affected, and reduce the number of outbreaks and cases so the disease can be managed more effectively. Ultimately, this will allow cervids to continue playing their important role in the environment and in the lives of those who depend on them for food and income.