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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has reported the 

first suspected case of chronic wasting disease

 in a wild deer along the state's western border. The news comes as the state’s firearm deer hunting opener starts Saturday.

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease spread by malformed proteins, called prions, which are spread by infected animals and can threaten multiple deer species, as well as other animals.

Game-changer or unproven?

 joined Cathy Wurzer to talk about a CWD outbreak in a herd of captive deer in Beltrami County that investigators have connected to potentially infected animals moved from a Winona County farm. 

, professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at University of Minnesota where he leads the Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach, also joined Cathy to talk more about testing and monitoring for the disease.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has reported the first suspected case of chronic wasting disease in a wild deer along the state's western border. The news comes as the state’s firearm deer hunting opener starts Saturday.

What to know about testing for chronic wasting disease ahead of deer hunting opener

Whitetail deer browse on tree buds in the Wood Lake Nature Center.

What to know about testing for chronic wasting disease ahead of deer hunting opener

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