In News:

Florida has recently confirmed new cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), commonly referred to as “Zombie Deer Disease,” heightening concerns among wildlife authorities in the United States. This marks the second confirmed case in wild deer in the state since the first detection in June 2023, triggering an emergency response and surveillance measures in affected regions.

What is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)?

CWD is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. It damages the central nervous system, causing:

• Severe weight loss
• Disorientation and loss of awareness
• Abnormal behavior, including reduced fear of humans
• Excessive salivation, increased drinking and urination
• Progressive debilitation and death

The incubation period ranges from 18–24 months, during which animals may appear healthy before showing symptoms.

Cause

• CWD is caused by prions — infectious misfolded proteins that trigger abnormal protein folding in the brain.
• Unlike bacteria or viruses, prions contain no DNA or RNA.
• Prions create spongy holes in brain tissue, leading to neurological failure.

Transmission

CWD spreads through:

• Direct contact among animals
• Contaminated saliva, urine, blood, and feces
• Environmental persistence — prions survive for years in soil, plants, and water
• Movement of infected animals
• Scavengers dispersing prion material
• Use of natural deer urine lures by hunters

Prions are extremely resilient, making eradication difficult.

Threat to Humans

• No confirmed human cases have been reported so far.
• However, health experts advise caution due to similarities with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (mad cow disease), a prion disorder linked to human deaths in the past.
• There is no cure or vaccine for CWD.

Why is it in the News?

Researchers in the US have warned that Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) spreading among wildlife across North America, could also spread to humans.

What is Zombie Deer Disease??

• According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Zombie deer disease or chronic wasting disease is a prion disease that affects deer, elk, reindeer, sika deer and moose.
  • Prion diseases affect both humans and animals and are distinguished by long incubation periods.
• In the case of chronic wasting disease or the zombie deer disease, "it may take over a year before an infected animal develops symptoms.
• History of the Disease?: The zombie deer disease was first discovered in Colorado (USA) in 1967.
  • Until now, reports of humans getting affected have not come to the fore.
  • However, the findings of several studies suggest that it can easily jump to human beings.

Why are health experts and scientists worried about a possible transmission??

• Experts are giving examples of the mad cow disease or the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).
  • “The BSE outbreak in Britain provided an example of how, overnight, things can get crazy when a spillover event happens from livestock to people.

Symptoms of the Disease:

• The common signs of the disease are drastic weight loss (wasting), stumbling, and other neurologic symptoms.
• Other symptoms seen in animals infected with this disease are listlessness, drooling, excessive thirst or urination, drooping ears, and lack of fear of people.

It is difficult to eradicate this disease??

• The chronic wasting disease is extremely difficult to eradicate from the environment once the infection has started.
  • It can persist for years in dirt or on surfaces, and it is resistant to disinfectants, formaldehyde, radiation, and incineration at 600C (1,100F).
• Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is fatal to animals, and there are no treatments or vaccines.

Prevention?:

• To avoid the spread of the disease, humans should avoid shoot, handling, or eating meat from deer and elk that look sick or are acting strangely or are found dead.
• Individuals should wear latex or rubber gloves when dressing the animal or handling the meat.