'Zombie Deer Disease' Raises Fears of Human Infection

Scientists warn of the potential for chronic wasting disease to mutate and spread to humans, with no current treatments or vaccines available.

Scientists are raising concerns about the potential for 'zombie deer disease,' officially known as chronic wasting disease (CWD), to mutate and infect humans.
CWD has been confirmed in deer, elk, and moose across 33 states in the U.S., as well as in Canada, Norway, and South Korea, with no known treatments or vaccines available.
Experts fear that human infection could occur through the consumption of contaminated venison, similar to how Mad Cow Disease was transmitted to humans.
Research involving 'humanized' mouse models has shown that CWD can be transmitted and shed infectious prions, raising concerns about its potential contagiousness among humans.
Authorities admit to being unprepared for a potential spillover of CWD to humans, with no contingency plans in place.