SARS-CoV-2 in White-Tailed Deer

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Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026, 02:17 PM

About the Research

CWSR is conducting several research projects to try to better understand the wildlife-disease interface and potential risks to humans. One recent project focused on better understanding the drivers of emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer and the potential risk to humans.

SIU/CWSR were part of a large collaborative network of universities and federal agencies (USDA and USGS) capturing deer to collect samples, study their movement, and evaluate their interactions with humans.


Map of the United States showing universities and federal agencies participating in the collaborative white-tailed deer surveillance network.

This project will be providing better information regarding surveillance efforts and tools to predict spread of future disease.


A white-tailed deer wearing a tracking collar in wooded area on campus

Chronic Waiting Disease

CWSR has also been collaborating closely with the Illinois Department Natural Resources (IDNR) for over two decades on the study of chronic wasting disease, a fatal prion disease in white-tailed deer.


Deer feeds on grass in forest area

While transmission of CWD to humans has not been documented, prion based diseases can potentially pose a risk to human health and very few tools exist to manage them in wild populations. Over the years, CWSR researchers have work with IDNR to better understand deer behavior, analytical tools to predict hotspots of transmission, and how management can be improved to reduce spread.