Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an infectious neurodegenerative disorder affecting deer and other cervids, first identified in 1981 in Colorado and Wyoming. The disease has spread to 36 US states, parts of Canada, Scandinavia, and South Korea, raising alarms among scientists. Media references to 'zombie deer disease' have downplayed its seriousness, leading to misconceptions about its nature. Experts like Michael Osterholm warn of potential risks associated with consuming infected game meat, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and action as the disease continues to expand across both wild and domestic animal populations.
CWD is spreading across the US and poses a serious health threat to both wildlife and potentially humans, marking it as a deathly public health issue.
The trivialization of CWD with terms like 'zombie deer disease' misrepresents the seriousness of the threat and could lead to complacency regarding its transmission.
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