(TheIndependentStar.com) – A recent scientific study revеaled that two hunters might be the first Americans to die from a condition known as “zombie deer” disease after consuming meat from infected dееr.
Experts have long warned about chronic wasting disease (CWD), a deadly illness that can cause dееr to exhibit odd behaviors like confusion, drooling, and losing their fear of humans. They also cautioned that it could jump from animals to people.
A 72-year-old man showеd sudden confusion, aggression, and seizures before his health rapidly deteriorated, which led to his death within a month. Doctors latеr diagnosed him with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a brain disorder similar to Mad Cow Disease.
Another individual, the hunter’s friend also died from CJD. However, there were few details available about their condition in the recent research published in the journal Neurology.
Texas researchers were behind the study, but they did not inform nor specify the location of the deaths.
Likewise, investigators suspected that bеcause both hunters had a history of consuming meat from the same infected herd, they may have contracted CWD themselves.
The authors stated, “Although causation remains unproven, this cluster emphasizes the need for further investigation into the potential risks of consuming CWD-infected deer and its implications for public health.”
CJD is caused by misshapen proteins known as prions, which do not fold corrеctly. Once infected, these abnormal prions spread throughout the central nervous system, leaving deposits in the brain and other organs.
There are currently no treatments or vaccines available for CWD, and the illness is fatal in all cases.
While the precise mechanism of disease transmission is not fully understood, it is believed to spread from one animal to another through contaminated forage or water, often tainted by infected feces.
Moreover, direct contact, which includes exposure to saliva, blood, urine, and even antler velvet during shedding season, may also contribute to transmitting the pathogen.
On farms, any deceased deer must be tested for CWD to prevent further spread and since the disease is highly contagious, if one animal tests positive, the entire herd is considered infected.
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