Las Vegas, Nevada – Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been spreading rapidly across the United States, affecting wild and domestic game animal herds in 36 states. The contagious neurodegenerative disorder, known to infect the cervid family that includes deer, elk, moose, and reindeer, poses a significant threat to public and wildlife health. With no known cure or vaccine, the disease has been referred to as “zombie deer disease” due to its debilitating symptoms and alarming spread.
First identified in the wild among a few deer in Colorado and Wyoming in 1981, CWD has now reached alarming levels, extending its reach beyond the US to Canada, Scandinavia, and South Korea. As the number of infected animals grows and the risk of spillover to humans becomes more apparent, scientists and researchers are raising concerns about the potential consequences of the disease.
The spread of CWD presents a critical challenge for wildlife conservationists, public health officials, and policymakers alike. Despite the lack of documented cases of humans contracting the disease, the looming threat and potential consequences have prompted calls for improved surveillance, testing, and public health measures. The risk of spillover to humans, similar to BSE (mad cow disease), remains a significant concern among experts.
Efforts to mitigate the spread of CWD have been met with challenges, particularly in states where big game hunting and consumption of venison are deeply rooted traditions. The movement of potentially contaminated meat across state lines raises further concerns about environmental contamination and the longevity of prions in the soil. With no known immunity or vaccine for CWD, the implications for wildlife populations and human health are profound.
Conservationists and scientists have been advocating for strategic interventions to curb the spread of CWD, including the closure of feedgrounds where cervids gather and disease transmission can occur easily. Calls for better wildlife management practices, improved surveillance, and restrictions on the movement of potentially contaminated meat are growing louder as the threat of CWD continues to loom large. The urgent need for coordinated national and international strategies to address the spread of the disease is becoming increasingly apparent as the implications of inaction become more severe.