Chronic Wasting Disease is appearing in deer
The National Wildlife Health Center is reporting that Virginia is one of 32 states where Zombie deer disease has been detected. Officially known as chronic wasting disease, this is a prion disease, which leads to disturbances in the brain, and neurodegenerative changes and is usually fatal.
The name zombie deer disease is due to the symptoms, which include weight loss, drooling, confusion, listlessness, and stumbling.
Infected venison may harm humansPhoto byCristiano PintoonUnsplash
Humans might become infected by eating deer meat
Scientists believe the disease is spread through bodily fluids, including urine, feces, blood and saliva. Transmission may be from direct contact with fluids or indirectly through environmental contamination.
News Nation says there is no indication at this point that this wasting illness can be transported from deer to humans. Scientists believe that if Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) were to spread to humans, the most likely reason would be through eating meat from infected animals.