A troubling new report has raised concerns that Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), commonly known as “Zombie Deer” disease, could potentially infect humans. According to experts, the disease has already been detected in several animals, including feral pigs, sparking fears that it could spread to humans through the consumption of infected meat.
Dr. Michael Osterholm, a leading infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, voiced significant concerns. He noted that while there is limited data on the infection in feral pigs, the possibility that domestic swine could also become infected remains a worrying prospect. “If they can get infected, surely it’s possible domestic swine could also become infected? What would that do to the swine market? What would that do to the cattle market?” Osterholm stated.
The report, funded by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, warns that CWD, which leaves infected animals in a zombified state — drooling, disoriented, and unusually unafraid of humans — may be transmitted when hunters come into contact with infected deer. Importantly, experts assert that cooking the meat may not eliminate the disease, as the prions responsible for CWD are resistant to heat.
This disease, which has spread across at least 33 states in the U.S., including Wyoming, Wisconsin, Colorado, and parts of Pennsylvania, poses an additional risk to humans. While the disease is known to affect cervids such as deer, elk, and moose, scientists have raised alarms about its potential to jump to humans, particularly with the discovery of CWD in other animals.
CWD is transmitted through contact with the saliva, feces, or blood of infected animals, and there are currently no treatments or vaccines available for humans. Dr. Osterholm and his colleagues have raised the possibility that new strains of the disease could develop, which may eventually make it capable of infecting humans.
In the U.S., millions of deer and pigs are harvested annually. With the disease now widespread, the potential for human infection could have serious consequences, not only for public health but also for the agricultural industry.
As investigations continue, U.S. health officials are closely monitoring the situation, urging caution for those who hunt or consume meat from wild or feral animals. The full extent of the risk remains unclear, but experts are calling for further research to better understand how the disease could affect humans in the future.
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