'Zombie Deer Disease' Detected in Yellowstone Raises Human Infection Concerns

Scientists warn of a potential 'spillover' event, urging governments to prepare and hunters to test meat before consumption.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), colloquially known as 'Zombie Deer Disease', has been detected in Yellowstone National Park, raising concerns among scientists about the potential for the disease to spread to humans.
The disease, which leaves animals drooling, lethargic, stumbling, and with a blank stare, has been found in 800 samples of deer, elk, and moose across Wyoming.
CWD has been found in animal populations in at least 31 U.S. states, Canada, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and South Korea, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
No known cases of CWD infection in humans have been reported, but scientists warn that the potential for a 'spillover' event, similar to the mad cow disease outbreak in Britain, should not be discounted.
Scientists urge governments to prepare for the possibility of CWD spreading to humans, and recommend that hunters test deer or elk meat for CWD before consuming.