Experts warn of spreading infectious disease found in deer known as chronic wasting disease, or CWD. The disease has been reported to have spread to 24 states, mainly throughout the Midwest, and that the increasing number of infected deer meat could one day lead to the spreading of CWD to humans. CWD is transmitted among deer through contaminated bodily fluids, tissue, drinking water, and food. It affects deer by leaving microscopic holes in their brains and has therefore been dubbed as the “zombie” deer disease. Many state regulations are being put in place in an attempt to prevent and limit human consumption of infected meat.
This reminds me of the Mad Cow Disease of the 1980’s in the United Kingdom, when public concern regarding the consumption of cow meat grew for fear of contracting the disease transmitted among cows. This fear spread to the U.S. through media and anxiety over risk of epidemic.
To be honest this topic makes me very uncomfortable to write about, however I am not quite sure why. I think it comes back to the fact that I feel pity for the deer because of a spreading disease affecting their population and behavior as to which they have absolutely zero control over.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2019/02/16/zombie-deer-chronic-wasting-disease-could-affect-humans/2882550002/
This is so sad and scary at the same time. I couldn't imagine this happening to humans or to animals and I hope there is something we can do before it is too late.
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