Despite ongoing efforts to curb its spread in the US and abroad, the deadly chronic wasting disease (CWD) remains a threat — with no vaccine or cure.
In 2005, a “deer zombie” disease hit New York after several deer infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) escaped from a fenced enclosure in Oneida County, a largely rural area of upstate New York.
Only a swift and aggressive eradication operation by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation – resulting in the slaughter of hundreds of deer, in cooperation with local hunters – could stop the outbreak.
To date, New York is the only state that has eliminated CWD from deer, elk and deer populations.
But CWD continues to spread around the world — including a recent case in Yellowstone National Park — and many regions of the country are on alert for the disease in wild and farmed animals.
How chronic wasting disease develops
Deer, elk, moose and other animals across the country are falling victim to chronic wasting disease.Star Tribune via Getty Images
Chronic wasting diseases are known to medical experts as prion diseases, a group of rare progressive neurological disorders that affect humans and animals.
Other prion diseases include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as “mad cow disease.”
The disease causes sponge-like holes to develop in the brains of infected animals, as well as affecting the spinal fluid and other body tissues.
And while no cases of CWD have spread to humans, some studies suggest that it poses a risk to certain types of primates that come into contact with bodily fluids from infected animals.
“This study raises concerns that there may also be a risk to the public,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a 2021 report.
That same year, Pennsylvania reported an outbreak of CWD in deer just a few miles from the New York State border. As of this month, the CDC reported that the disease has been found in 31 states, as well as three Canadian territories, northern Europe and South Korea.
How CWD is spread
Chronic wasting disease causes sponge-like holes to develop in the brains of infected animals. Star Tribune via Getty Images
Prion diseases such as CWD have a long incubation period, which is of particular concern because infected animals may appear healthy for two years before showing symptoms, during which time they can spread the disease to other animals.
CWD and other prion diseases are spread through bodily fluids and through contaminated soil, plants, food or water. As the disease progresses through the brain and nervous system, infected animals may show symptoms including:
- drastic weight loss (wasting)
- stumbling and lack of coordination
- lethargy
- drooling
- excessive thirst or urination
- ears droop
- less fear of people
Precautions are recommended
Hunters are asked to be on the lookout for deer, elk, deer or other members of the cervid family showing any of these symptoms.
Additionally, anyone dressing, skinning or butchering meat should wear nitrile, rubber or latex gloves.
To control the spread of CWD, New York and most other states have strict regulations against importing live deer and other cervids from out of state, as well as bans on importing carcasses and byproducts.
People are also not allowed to feed wild deer because most human food is unhealthy for deer, and because concentrating animals in one feeding area can help spread CWD.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
