Chronic Wasting Disease Found in 2 Deer in Souteast Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Wildlife managers say two deer shot by hunters near Lanesboro in southeastern Minnesota were infected with chronic wasting disease.

The Department of Natural Resources says they're the first detections of the brain disease among wild deer in Minnesota since 2010.

One buck was confirmed as positive, while the second confirmation is expected this week.

The DNR says they're the only deer to test positive out of nearly 2,500 samples collected this month. Results are pending from 373 more samples.

Chronic wasting disease is fatal to deer, elk and moose. While it's not known to affect human health, the Centers for Disease Control advises against eating animals known to have the disease.

The DNR resumed CWD testing in southeastern Minnesota this fall because of increasing cases in Wisconsin and northeast Iowa.