Chronic wasting disease: update on detection methods and occurrence

Diagnostic methods used in Norway detected chronic wasting disease (CWD) in reindeer, moose and red deer in 2016 and 2017, say EFSA experts.

Until now, little was known about the efficacy of available methods for detecting the disease in Europe – as the disease has never been identified here – but the experience in Norway shows that the methods work.

EFSA experts assessed the limitations of the survey carried out between 2006 and 2010 and could not rule out the possibility that the disease was present in Europe before the survey was conducted, despite no cases being detected.

Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden will start monitoring the disease this month. This follows recommendations made by EFSA in 2017.

In January 2017, EFSA experts identified measures to prevent the introduction and spread of the disease into and within the EU. They also assessed new evidence on possible public health risks.

• Scientific opinion on chronic wasting disease (II)