Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), also known as “Zombie Deer Disease,” is a prion illness that impacts deer, elk, and other cervids. This disease leads to neurological degeneration in infected animals, resulting in symptoms like weight loss, unusual behavior, and ultimately death.
What is the risk to humans?
Although there is no direct evidence of CWD transferring to humans at present, scientists are worried about the potential for zoonotic transmission. Prion diseases have the ability to cross species boundaries, as demonstrated by Mad Cow Disease (BSE) transferring to humans as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD).
Studies have revealed that prions from infected deer can remain infectious in the environment for extended periods. This raises concerns about potential human exposure to contaminated meat or bodily fluids. Nevertheless, there have been no documented instances of CWD transmission to humans thus far.
Precautions to take
To be safe, health authorities advise hunters not to consume meat from animals known to be infected with CWD. It is also recommended to wear gloves when handling carcasses and avoid contact with the brain, spinal cord, and lymph nodes – which are highly infectious tissues.
Conclusion
While the uncertainty remains regarding the risk of CWD transmissionto humans it’s crucialto stay informed and take necessary precautions when dealing with potentially infected animals. Ongoing research into prion disease transmission is essential for understanding and preventing any potential threatsto human health.