Overview

• 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.