Florida wildlife officials have confirmed a second case of chronic wasting disease in the state after a road-killed white-tailed deer tested positive for the fatal illness.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that the infected deer was a 1.5-year-old female found in Holmes County, located approximately 0.7 miles from the state’s first confirmed case from June 2023.

Chronic wasting disease affects the brain and central nervous system and is always fatal to deer, elk, moose, and caribou. The disease is sometimes called “zombie deer disease” due to symptoms that can include drastic weight loss, stumbling, and listlessness.

While there is no conclusive evidence that the disease can spread to humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against consuming meat from animals that test positive or from any sick animal.

The FWC discovered the infected deer during ongoing response efforts following the first case. Officials are asking hunters to voluntarily submit deer heads for testing and to report any sick or dead deer of unknown cause to their hotline at 866-293-9282.

The state’s CWD Management Zone and hunting regulations will remain unchanged since the second case was found near the first.

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