CWD, or Chronic Wasting Disease, is a neurodegenerative illness that affects deer, elk, and moose.

It is caused by an abnormal protein called a prion that infects the brain and nervous system,

leading to the gradual deterioration of the animal's physical and neurological functions.

CWD is characterized by symptoms such as weight loss, stumbling, drooling, excessive thirst,

lack of coordination, and behavior changes. The disease is always fatal,

and infected animals typically die within months to a few years of showing symptoms.

CWD is primarily spread through direct contact between animals, such as saliva, urine, feces,

and bodily fluids, as well as through contaminated environments like soil or feed.

It can also be transmitted indirectly through prions left behind in the environment.