San Antonio, Texas – Concerns have been raised about chronic wasting disease following a case report involving two hunters who developed neurological disorders and died after consuming venison from a potentially infected deer population.
The report, presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting, did not definitively prove the transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) from deer to humans, according to researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. However, it emphasized the importance of further investigating the risks associated with consuming CWD-infected deer and its potential implications for public health.
While there have been no reported cases of CWD in humans to date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has expressed concerns about the potential risks posed by the disease. The CDC emphasized the importance of preventing human exposures to CWD, citing past studies that suggested a possible risk to humans.
The CDC has also stated that there is a need for thorough investigation into CWD as a potential health risk to humans, noting that the two hunters’ deaths in 2022 were considered part of the normal number of cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in the United States. CJD is a prion disease, similar to CWD, that can affect both humans and animals, leading to fatal neurological disorders.
Scientists have been monitoring CWD closely due to concerns about the potential for transmission to humans, particularly in light of past instances where prion diseases, such as mad cow disease, have jumped from animals to humans. While ongoing studies have not shown an increase in CJD rates among hunters in Colorado, precautions are still recommended to minimize the risk of exposure to CWD.
Hunters are advised to avoid shooting, handling, or consuming meat from sick-looking or behaving deer and elk, and to take precautions when field-dressing animals or handling meat. Testing for CWD in animals before consuming the meat is also recommended, and hunters should follow state wildlife and public health guidelines for further guidance on minimizing the risk of exposure to the disease.
By staying informed and taking necessary precautions, hunters and the general public can minimize the potential risks associated with chronic wasting disease and ensure their continued safety when handling deer and elk meat.