JACKSON — The latest CWD positives detected in Mississippi are once again from Benton and Marshall Counties. North Mississippi is one of the hot spots of the 100 percent, always fatal infectious prion disease in deer. 

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks reported three positives were detected in Benton County and one was detected in Marshall County this week bringing the positives for this season to eight. Samples are starting to flow in as modern gun season is underway. The more deer harvested the more samples come in. 

MDWFP reports there have been 2,438 samples submitted for Chronic Wasting Disease testing in FY2025 with four positive detections. The agency’s fiscal year starts on July 1 and runs until June 30th. Hunter participation in surveillance efforts for Chronic Wasting Disease are vital in early detection in new areas and helping the agency gauge prevalence in hotspots. 

Since 2018, Benton County has had 186 deer test positive for CWD followed closely by Marshall County at 105 positive deer. Alcorn County has had 8 deer test positive, Warren County has had 7, Issaquena has had 3 test positive and DeSotto County has had 2 test positive. 

Claiborne, Tunica, Harrison, Tishimingo, Tallahatchie, Tippah, Tate, Panola, Pontotoc and Lafayette Counties all have had one positive detected. Tate County’s positive came from a permitted deer enclosure and one of Benton County’s positives was from a deer enclosure. 

More samples are needed to find CWD in Mississippi and fight against the disease and to protect the resource. Lincoln County hunters have turned in 759 samples over the years but more is needed. Of the 759 samples, 17 of them were turned in over the last couple of weeks. 

MDWFP has a list of self-serve 24/7 sample drop-off coolers and a list of participating taxidermists on their website. 

Since 2018, Mississippi’s CWD positive detections total 326.