Two US Hunters Die from Suspected 'Zombie Deer Disease' Linked to Infected Venison

In 2022, two hunters in the United States died from suspected Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare and fatal brain disorder. The deaths have raised concerns about a possible link to consuming meat from deer infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD), also known as 'zombie deer disease'.

According to a study, suggests, deaths published in the journal Neurology, the two men, who were deer hunters, consumed venison in a CWD-prevalent area before becoming ill. One of the victims, a 72-year-old man, suffered from "rapid-onset confusion and aggression" and died within a month. His friend also experienced similar symptoms before passing away.

The researchers who reported the deaths stated that the patients' histories, including a similar case in their social group, suggest a possible novel animal-to-human transmission of CWD. They warned that clusters of sporadic CJD cases may occur in regions with CWD-confirmed deer populations, hinting at potential cross-species prion transmission.

Why this matters: The potential link between CWD and human deaths raises serious public health concerns, as the disease continues to spread across the United States. If confirmed, this would mark the first known cases of CWD transmission to humans, highlighting the need for increased surveillance and research to better understand the risks associated with consuming infected deer meat.

CWD is a prion disease that affects deer, elk, moose, and other animals. It can have an incubation period of up to two years before the onset of symptoms like weight loss and lack of coordination. The disease has been recorded in free-ranging deer, elk, and moose in at least 32 states across the US, and scientists have been concerned that it could jump to humans, similar to how mad cow disease did in the UK in the 1990s.

While there have been no confirmed cases of deer-to-human transmission of CWD, the similarities between CJD and CWD have prompted calls for more research and caution among hunters. Prions, the infectious agents responsible for CWD and CJD, cannot be neutralized by cooking, making the potential risk of transmission through consuming infected meat a serious concern.

The National Deer Association (NDA) has cautioned that the report is causing confusion, and there is no proven case of humans dying from CWD infection. The CDC also states that there are no confirmed cases of humans dying from CWD but advises hunters not to consume the meat of infected deer and to get their deer tested for CWD before consumption.

The researchers emphasized the need for surveillance and further research to better understand the possible association between CWD and human disease. They noted the difficulty in distinguishing between CJD and CWD, highlighting the importance of thorough investigation and testing.

Key Takeaways

• 2 US hunters died from suspected Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) after consuming venison.
• Researchers suggest a possible link to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer, known as 'zombie deer disease'.
• CWD is a prion disease affecting deer, elk, and moose, and its transmission to humans is a concern.
• There are no confirmed cases of humans dying from CWD, but the CDC advises caution when consuming infected meat.
• More surveillance and research are needed to understand the potential association between CWD and human disease.