The so - called “ zombie disease ” has been report in cervid , elk , and moose across 24 US states , according to a new warning by theUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC ) .
As of January 2019 , at least 251 counties across the US , from northerly Montana to southern Texas , have reported CWD in free - ramble deer , members of the cervid family . Farther abroad , there are alike concern for Rangifer tarandus in Norway , Finland , and , to a less extent , South Korea .
Scientifically known aschronic wasting disease(CWD ) , the contagious neurological disease gets its sensory nickname because of its effect on the brain of cervids , include North American Alces alces or wapiti , ruddy deer , mule cervid , black - tail cervid , whitened - dog deer , sika deer , reindeer , and European elk . Deer that have been expunge with the disease stick out from drastic system of weights passing , unnatural demeanor , stumbling , drooling , lack of coordination , aggression , excessive thirst , and a concern of others .
CWD is actually not believe by most to be due to a bacteria , computer virus , sponge , or fungus . Instead , it seems to be aprion disease , a group of neurodegenerative diseases make by “ rogue ” misfolded proteins building up in the head . Once one prion is formed , these rogue proteins can “ change over ” more of the normal protein into their unnatural form , setting off a chain chemical reaction that results in a work up - up of prions in the brain . Humans can digest from an unrelated prion disease known asCreutzfeldt - Jakob disease .
However , that ’s just one theory . Another theoryclaims that the culprit behind the disease is a bacterium called spiroplasma .
It sounds fairly scary , but do you need to room up your doors and stock up on put up food ? Of course not . scientist do n’t fully empathise the disease – which believably does n’t voice too reassuring – but there ’s no confirmed evidence that it can betransmitted to humansfrom deer . It does n’t seem to taint Bos taurus or other domesticated animals either .
The main concern is for free - roaming cervids . Even then , the CDC notice that “ across the nation , the overall occurrence of CWD in free - set out deer and elk is relatively low . ”
“ In several locations where the disease is established , contagion charge per unit may exceed 10 percent ( 1 in 10 ) , and localize infection rates of more than 25 pct ( 1 in 4 ) have been cover , ” according to the CDC . “ The infection rates among some intent cervid can be much higher , with a rate of 79 per centum ( nigh 4 in 5 ) reported from at least one engrossed herd . ”
