Monday, hunters in Warren County will have the chance to learn and ask questions about the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ response to a confirmed case of chronic wasting disease, a fatal infectious deer disease, in Issaquena County.

Monday’s meeting will take place at the Vicksburg Convention Center at 6:30 p.m.

The disease had previously been confirmed in n Arkansas and 23 other states and infects deer, elk and moose causing similar symptoms to mad cow disease.

The state of Mississippi has taken precautions to limit the spread of the disease including banning supplemental feeding in Claiborne, Hinds, Issaquena, Sharkey, Warren and Yazoo counties and banning the import of dead deer carcasses from affected areas last year.

The state has not determined the cause of the disease and is still working to gather information.

Genetic tests show the buck found Jan. 25 was local and therefore was infected by a local source. Testing is continuing on other deer reported sick or dead, including roadkill.

If you see a deer that has died suspiciously or that is showing symptoms including having tremors and other movement problems and losing weight, it can be reported at xnet2.mdwfp.com/NRIS/Home/DiseasedDeerReport.

If CWD were to spread in Mississippi it could have a major impact on the deer population and the state’s hunter tourism industry, so please be aware and report any possible cases to Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.