Fear of a fatal deer disease spreading to humans has been renewed after a new case was reported.

Recently, a mule deer buck carcass at Yellowstone National Park was discovered to have Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), also known as "Zombie Deer Disease". This has sparked fears that the fatal illness could potentially be transmitted to humans.

CWD is a brain disease caused by prions. These protein-based pathogens damage the brains and nervous systems of hosts, causing them to lose weight rapidly, become uncoordinated, aggressive, and drool excessively while appearing lethargic and with a blank stare.

Animals affected by CWD include deer, reindeer, caribou, elk, and moose. Unfortunately, there is no available vaccine or treatment for the disease. The recent case of CWD at Yellowstone is the first confirmed instance in this popular National Park, and it is likely only the beginning.

Dr. Thomas Roffe, former Fish & Wildlife Service Chief of Animal Health, believes that this case of CWD puts this illness on the radar of widespread attention in a way it wasn't before. He notes that it is a disease with huge ecological implications.

CWD has been a concern in the US since the 1960s, when it was first discovered in captive deer. It then spread to wild deer in 1981, and now it has been reported in 24 states.

Some scientists worry that CWD in cervids could spread to livestock, birds, and potentially even humans. Dr. Cory Anderson, who has studied CWD transmission, points to the outbreak of BSE (Mad Cow Disease) in the UK as an example of a spillover event in the past. He cautions that it's important for people to be prepared for the possibility of something similar occurring again.

CWD is not the only wild animal-related problem facing the US recently. Last month, University of Saskatchewan professor Ryan Brook warned of "feral super pigs" crossing from Canada into the US that could cause an "ecological train wreck". These issues demonstrate how a healthy ecosystem is essential for the well-being of everyone, both human and non-human alike.

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