The contagious, fatal illness in deer, elk and moose must be taken seriously, say experts as it takes hold in the US and reaches other countries. While it has not infected humans yet, the risk is growing

In a scattershot pattern that now extends from coast to coast, continental US states have been announcing new hotspots of chronic wasting disease (CWD).

The contagious and always-fatal neurodegenerative disorder infects the cervid family that includes deer, elk, moose and, in higher latitudes, reindeer. There is no vaccine or treatment.

  • Raiderkev@lemmy.world
    36·
    1 month ago

    Fr. CWD is a major reason I avoid venison. It hasn’t made the jump yet, but damn if I’m going to be the 1st.

    • talEnglish
      33·
      1 month ago

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_wasting_disease

      Since 2014, however, the CFIA has allowed animals from CWD-infected farms to enter the food chain because there is “no national requirement to have animals tested for the disease”. From one CWD-infected herd in Alberta, 131 elk were sold for human consumption.[19]

      Hmm.

    • swelter_spark@reddthat.comEnglish
      112·
      1 month ago

      Hunters have been diagnosed with the human equivalent shortly after eating infected venison. There’s no proven causal link, but it seems like quite a coincidence.