What is Zombie Deer Disease?

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About Zombie Deer Disease:

Known scientifically as Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), it is a progressive and fatal neurological disease which primarily affects deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
What causes CWD?
- CWD is caused by infectious proteins called prions.
- Prions are unique in that they don’t contain DNA or RNA, unlike bacteria or viruses.
- Instead, they are misfolded proteins that cause other proteins in the brain to likewise misfold, ultimately leading to brain damage.
- Once these proteins accumulate in the brain, they create spongy holes in the tissue, resulting in severe neurological dysfunction.
Transmission:
- CWD prions are highly contagious and spread through body fluids such as saliva, feces, blood, or urine, either by direct contact or environmental contamination.
- Once present in an area, prions remain infectious in soil, water, and plants for years, posing long-term risks to animal populations.
Symptoms:
- It has an extended incubation period averaging 18–24 months between infection and the onset of noticeable signs. During this time frame, animals look and act normal.
- The most obvious sign of CWD is progressive weight loss.
- Numerous behavioral changes also been reported, including decreased social interaction, loss of awareness, and loss of fear of humans.
- Diseased animals also may exhibit increased drinking, urination, and excessive salivation.
Treatment: It is always fatal in infected animals. There is no vaccine or treatment.
Can Humans Get CWD?
- So far, there has been no confirmed case of CWD transmission to humans. However, experts remain cautious.

Q1: What kills a prion?

To destroy a prion it must be denatured to the point that it can no longer cause normal proteins to misfold. Sustained heat for several hours at extremely high temperatures (900°F and above) will reliably destroy a prion.

Source: TOI