Chronic Wasting Disease Poses Unprecedented Threat to North American Wildlife and Potential Human Health Risks

As Chronic Wasting Disease spreads among deer populations, scientists warn of its potential to infect humans and the challenges in combating this prion disease.

• Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a highly contagious and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by misfolded proteins called prions, is devastating North American deer populations.
• Scientists express concerns over the disease's potential to infect humans, given its ability to spread across species in laboratory settings.
• Efforts to develop vaccines and other containment strategies are underway, but the disease's resilience and widespread nature pose significant challenges.
• The disease's prions are extremely durable, surviving common disinfectants and high temperatures, complicating efforts to eradicate it from the environment.
• Public health experts emphasize the importance of surveillance, research, and education to prepare for a potential spillover into human populations.

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