Zombie deer disease, formally known as Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), has made its presence felt across 32 states in the U.S. and stretches of Canada, causing significant alarm due to its potential implications for human health. This unfolding situation has been termed a ‘slow-moving disaster’ by renowned expert Dr. Michael Osterholm.
The concern escalated when a deer found deceased in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, tested positive for CWD. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) now confirms the spread of the virus across 32 states and four Canadian provinces, with hotspots notably in the upper Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions. Notably, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wisconsin have witnessed over 40 counties reporting CWD cases.
Both Dr. Osterholm and Dr. Cory Anderson emphasize the potential risks posed to humans, especially considering the consumption of meat from infected deer. Drawing parallels with the ‘mad cow’ outbreak in Britain, Dr. Anderson highlighted the urgency for preparedness against a potential spillover event, emphasizing the disease’s fatal and contagious nature.
CWD, a prion-transmitted ailment akin to ‘Mad Cow,’ manifests in deer and related species, leading to debilitating neurological symptoms. While the U.S. National Park Service has stated no evidence of CWD transmission to humans or domestic animals, cautionary advisories urge against consuming tissues from infected animals.
Recent findings by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Health Laboratory have intensified monitoring efforts within Yellowstone National Park. The discovery has prompted revisions in the park’s CWD surveillance plan, signaling increased collaboration between park officials and state wildlife regulators. Montana, bordering Yellowstone, remains vigilant, with authorities committed to monitoring and collaborating with hunters to manage CWD effectively.
With the disease first detected in Wyoming’s mule deer in 1985 and subsequently in elk, its emergence in Yellowstone National Park marks its westward expansion across the state, demanding intensified surveillance and mitigation strategies to safeguard wildlife and potentially vulnerable human populations.
