🦌 Zombie deer disease threat escalates over human infection risk

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal prion ailment that affects wildlife, has penetrated the core of Yellowstone National Park. News reports are sparking concerns about who might be affected.

Dubbed 'Zombie Deer Disease,' this illness not only endangers the park's ecosystem but also prompts concerns about breaching species’ barriers, reminiscent of the 'mad cow disease' outbreak. This raises questions about what impacts it may have beyond wildlife. In response to these worries, experts stress the urgency of vigilance and the necessity for preventive actions.

This disease originated from a mule deer buck's demise within the park. It is caused by abnormal transmissible agents called prions, quietly spreading across North America and drawing attention to its impact on wildlife. In today’s Must read, this prompts questions about where it might spread next and how it will affect other regions.

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Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), known as 'Zombie Deer Disease,' devastates wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. Experts fear its spread to humans due to its impact on hosts' brains and the absence of a species barrier.

Professionals are calling for urgent attention to prevent its lethal spread in animals and the environment, similar to the 'mad cow disease' outbreak. Dr. Thomas Roffe, a former chief of animal health for the US Fish & Wildlife Service, stresses the ecological implications, emphasizing the urgent need for public attention.

Yellowstone, boasting a diverse array of wild mammals, serves as a laboratory to observe the havoc Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) wreaks within an intact ecosystem.

Epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm, known for his research on 'mad cow disease,' labels CWD as a "slow-moving disaster." Its relentless spread, marked by fatal, incurable, and highly contagious characteristics, raises apprehensions regarding the challenges of eradicating the disease from infected animals and contaminated environments.

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