The case was confirmed by the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which works in collaboration with the DNR to identify CWD in Michigan's wild deer herd. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, in Ames, Iowa, also confirmed the test result, according to the news release.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. The chronic disease develops and spreads slowly.

Mecosta County last underwent intensive CWD surveillance from 2017 to 2019 when no positives were found among over 5,600 deer tested. According to the DNR, 167 deer have tested positive in Montcalm County, which shares a border with Millbrook Township.

A deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease in Mecosta County, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

With the detection of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a deer, Mecosta County becomes the 14th Michigan county to report the fatal neurodegenerative illness, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported yesterday.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. To date, the disease has also been detected in the following Michigan counties: Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Midland, Montcalm and Ogemaw.