“Zombie deer disease”

Zombie Deer Disease

Zombie deer sickness, also known as chronic wasting disease (CWD), is a potentially fatal neurological disorder that affects deer, elk, moose, and other cervids. It is caused by prions, which are aberrant proteins that cause harm to the brain and nervous system of affected animals.

The term “zombie deer disease” refers to symptoms that resemble a zombie-like state in infected animals, such as rapid weight loss, stumbling, lack of coordination, drooling, listlessness, and abnormal behavior. These symptoms intensify over time, eventually leading to death.

One of the biggest worries with CWD is its ability to spread. While no cases of CWD transmission to humans have been proven, there is ongoing investigation and caution due to the risk of transmission through consumption of infected meat.

Controlling CWD entails monitoring wild populations, imposing limits on shipping live animals or corpses from contaminated areas, and doing ongoing research to learn more about how it spreads and the potential consequences to both animal and human health.

3 / 3

Scientists and wildlife experts are constantly studying CWD because of its potential influence on cervid populations and habitats. Efforts to manage and contain the disease include measures like as surveillance, testing, and restrictions on the movement of live animals to prevent its spread.