A disease that turns deer into zombies… Shocking possibility of ‘human contagion’ raised

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A disease that turns deer into zombies… Shocking possibility of ‘human contagion’ raised

Reporter Lee Hae-na | Intern reporter Lee Ga-eun

Entered 2024/04/24 07:30

Research results raising the possibility that deer chronic wasting disease, also known as ‘deer mad cow disease’, can be transmitted to humans were revealed on the 9th. The photo shows examining a deer suffering from chronic deer wasting disease.​/Photo = Capture from The Sun

Since hundreds of deer in Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. were infected with ‘glossy green disease’ last December, the disease has spread rapidly, and the possibility of human infection has recently been raised, causing shock.

The official name of mad rust disease is ‘Deer Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).’ It is mainly infected with deer and elk, causing damage to the central nervous system and destroying the brain, creating sponge-like holes. Deer with chronic deer wasting disease show symptoms such as being less afraid of people, losing facial expressions, drooling like cows with mad cow disease, and losing their sense of balance. This is why infected deer are called ‘zombie deer’. Deer infected with this disease show symptoms and eventually die. There is currently no known treatment or vaccine, so the only way to prevent the disease from spreading is to cull the entire breeding farm where cases of the disease have been confirmed. Meanwhile, the possibility that humans can also be infected with deer chronic wasting disease was recently mentioned. The results of an analysis of the possibility of deer chronic wasting disease transmission in a death that occurred two years ago were published in the latest issue of ‘Neurology’, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Some studies in the past have expressed concern about the possibility of deer chronic wasting disease infecting humans, but no actual cases have been known yet, with analysis suggesting that the possibility of transmission is extremely low. However, in a paper published this time, researchers at the University of Texas Medical School suggested that two hunters who ate deer infected with deer chronic wasting disease in 2022 may have died from the disease. According to the researchers, the two deceased patients complained of mental confusion along with seizures. Those who eventually died despite one month of treatment were diagnosed with ‘Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease’, and it is known that deer chronic wasting disease was the cause of the infection. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a disease that deteriorates physical and mental functions and eventually leads to death. This disease is transmitted through a protein molecule called prion, and like deer chronic wasting disease, it causes a hole in the brain and loss of brain function. The researchers said, “As a result of the autopsy conducted at the time of death, we cannot say for sure because we did not test for deer chronic wasting disease. However, given that they had a history of consuming infected deer meat, it is likely that their deaths were due to deer chronic wasting disease.” “It is assumed that it is,” he said.

Meanwhile, deer chronic wasting disease is a disease that occurs in Korea as well. However, it is not well known because there are not many deer farms in Korea or they are small in size. There have been cases of infection with this disease in Korea, the United States, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.