NORTH CAROLINA -- North Carolina wildlife officials are warning of a deadly disease encroaching on the state's deer population. 

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission enacted a rule for the 2018-19 deer hunting season prohibiting import of whole deer carcasses and restricting importation of specific carcass parts to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease. 

Tennessee officials have enacted their chronic wasting disease response plan after reports involving white-tailed deer in the western part of the state. 

Wildlife commission spokeswoman Jodie Owen said there has never been a confirmed case of chronic wasting disease in North Carolina. Until now, the closest known cases were found in deer in Virginia.

Chronic wasting disease is transmissible in deer, elk, moose and reindeer/caribou and always kills its victims. 

Research into its effects on humans have not been concluded.