Is the zombie virus real? It doesn’t seem so unrealistic now that we’ve gone through a worldwide pandemic. Imagine sitting peacefully on your front porch, when suddenly, you see a deer stumbling across the lawn. The deer walks in an unstable manner, drool extended down to its chin. This deer most likely has the “Chronic wasting disease” (CWD), also known as, “Zombie deer disease”.

The CWD spreads among mammals such as deer, elk and even monkeys and can be transmitted through bodily fluids, such as saliva, blood or urine. Since the disease is also highly contagious and quick spreading, animals within the same herd are prone to infection as they share the same water and food source. Symptoms only start to show after a year of the initial infection date, so it can be difficult to detect straight away. The infected will experience physical symptoms such as drooling, unsteadiness and weight loss, along with severe dementia and aggression. 
 
CWD is caused by a prion. A prion is a misfolded protein that causes progressive neurodegenerative disorders in mammals. Even though it is normal for all mammals to produce prions, they are usually used and discarded or recycled within the body. However, when normal prions are exposed to disease associated prions, the prions are re-folded into abnormal shapes. These prions cannot easily be broken down, and therefore accumulate in lymphatic and neural tissues (such as the brain), consequently damaging them. Once the CWD prion (pathogen) infects an environment, it is extremely difficult to eliminate as it is resistant to disinfectants, formaldehyde, radiation, and can withstand incredibly high temperatures (up to 600oC).

There have been no reported cases of CWD in humans, however, the virus has made its way along various species of mammals. Such movement across species barriers have left experts pondering the possibility of the virus spreading to humans. Although the chances are low, In order to avoid transmission of the virus into our own bodies, we must be aware of what we eat and touch. Here are some ways to prevent the transmission of CWD (according to CDC):

Do not shoot, handle or eat meat from deer and elk that look sick or are acting strangely or are found dead (road-kill).
Wear latex or rubber (waterproof) gloves when handling raw organs or meat
Minimize how much you handle raw organs or meat, particularly areas of the nervous system (brain, spine) and do not use household items/ utensils for it.
Check state wildlife and public health guidance to see whether testing of animals is recommended or required. 
Test your meat for CWD before consumption and if tested positive, do not eat any meat from that animal

 

 

 

Works Cited 

Wilkinson, T. (2023). ‘Zombie deer disease’ epidemic spreads in Yellowstone as scientists raise fears it may jump to humans. The Guardian. [online] 22 Dec. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/22/zombie-deer-disease-yellowstone-scientists-fears-fatal-chronic-wasting-disease-cwd-jump-species-barrier-humans-aoe. 

‌What is the ‘zombie deer disease’ and can it spread to humans?. (2023). The Times of India. [online] 29 Dec. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/what-is-the-zombie-deer-disease-and-can-it-spread-to-humans/articleshow/106370443.cms?from=mdr. 

‌www.cdc.gov. (2021). Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) | Prion Diseases | CDC. [online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/prions/cwd/index.html#:~:text=CWD%20can%20affect%20animals%20of.

www.usgs.gov. (n.d.). What causes chronic wasting disease? | U.S. Geological Survey. [online] Available at: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-causes-chronic-wasting-disease#:~:text=Chronic%20wasting%20disease%20is%20caused.