Alarm over zombie deer disease: experts warn it could trigger a global crisis

Diseases - English Science - English Sports World News

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Diseases in some animal species are one of the issues that most concern specialists in the field. The disappearance of a species could trigger serious problems for an entire food chain, which could be endangered. Recently, alarm bells have been ringing in the United States over a disease that a number of deer are developing.

It is known as CWD, due to its acronym in English, and its translation into Spanish would be chronic wasting disease. It is highly contagious and fatal in a number of species and, although it has not affected humans, it could increase the risk of this occurring.

This disease is affecting mainly moose, deer, reindeer and Canadian elk. It was first diagnosed in 1981 and so far no cure or treatment has been found. For this reason, it has sometimes been referred to as “zombie deer” disease, as these animals could be seen with symptoms similar to those of these entities.

It could cause a global health crisis

To be called this way, the animals are seen with different extreme symptoms, namely drooling, disorientation, erratic walking, extreme thinness, lack of fear towards humans and a lost look.

At the moment, this disease has not reached humans, but there is increasing concern that it will, either through direct infection or through the consumption of infected meat, which could trigger a global alarm. This would cause, according to specialists, a national and global crisis.

Some epidemiologists such as Michael Osterholm have stated that “It is an extremely serious public health and wildlife problem”, and that it is further exacerbated by the high percentage of U.S. citizens who consume game meat from the slaughter of this type of species. It is therefore very likely that thousands of people have eaten game meat contaminated by this disease, either because they are unaware of it or because they do not believe in the threat.

This news was originally published on this post .

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