Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): The Threat of Zombie Deer
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) remains a significant threat in the U.S. and around the world, with no vaccine or cure in sight to prevent its spread. In 2005, New York fell victim to the “zombie deer” disease when several deer infected with CWD escaped from a fenced-in pen in Oneida County. The outbreak was halted only through a swift culling operation, resulting in the slaughter of hundreds of deer with the help of local hunters. New York is the only state to have successfully eliminated CWD from its population of deer, moose, and elk.
CWD continues to spread globally, with recent cases reported at Yellowstone National Park. The disease affects deer, elk, moose, and other animals across the country and poses a risk to both animal and human populations.
CWD is a prion disease, a group of rare progressive neurological disorders that affect both animals and humans. With no cases of CWD spreading to humans reported, some studies suggest that it may pose a risk to specific primates that come in contact with infected animals.
The disease has been found in 31 states, three Canadian provinces, northern Europe, and South Korea, making it a global concern. CWD has a long incubation period, and infected animals can appear healthy for up to two years before showing symptoms, during which time they can spread the disease to others through bodily fluids and contaminated soil, plants, food, or water.
Symptoms of CWD in animals include drastic weight loss, stumbling and lack of coordination, listlessness, drooling, excessive thirst or urination, drooping ears, and lack of fear of people. Precautionary measures recommended include being on the lookout for animals showing these symptoms, wearing protective gloves while handling meat, and avoiding feeding wild deer to prevent disease spread.
To control the spread of CWD, strict regulations against importing cervids from outside the state and feeding wild deer are in place in New York and many other states. These regulations are essential to prevent further outbreaks and protect both animal and human populations.
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