A new report suggests that a fatal prion disease may have passed from deer to humans. 2 hunters died after consuming venison from a population infected with the fatal disease. This is a condition without a cure, also known as “zombie deer” disease.
It is similar to mad cow disease, that is, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, writes Science Alert.
A team of doctors from the University of Texas reported that a 72-year-old man died after showing symptoms of aggression and confusion.
The “zombie” disease that passed from animals to humans
The man’s friend, who was part of the same hunting group, later died after experiencing similar symptoms. An autopsy determined that the 2nd patient died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a prion disease.
The “zombie” disease would have passed from animals to humans from that infected deer population. Prion disease is relatively rare in humans. Which would mean that these 2 cases indicate a zoonotic disease. That is, a disease that passed from animals to humans.
Prion diseases, known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (or CJD) in humans, are a concern. Prions are proteins that have not folded properly. As a result, it does not work as it should.
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The problem is that these proteins teach other proteins around them how to misfold. Which leads to the propagation of dysfunctional tissue, a process that cannot be stopped or cured.
The advance of these proteins in the brain tissue produces symptoms similar to an aggressively advancing dementia. Since CJD does not produce an immune response, the “zombie” disease is almost impossible to diagnose in a living patient.
There are significant concerns about this disease. It infects animals such as deer and elk. It appears to be transmitted relatively easily between these animals. Experts believe that transfer occurs through fluids such as blood or saliva. Either through direct contact or contamination in the environment.
The disease is found in North America
The report does not say exactly where the 2 men came from. But the disease is found in North America in wild populations of deer and elk. It is also sometimes found in farmed deer.
Other studies have shown that this disease can also infect mice whose DNA has been modified with human genetic material. Although the disease cannot be treated and is fatal, most people do not consider this risk. According to a 2019 study, 7,000 – 15,000 animals with this disease are consumed each year.
Experts estimate that the number of animals consumed that have the “zombie” disease will increase by 20% annually.
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Prion diseases can occur spontaneously, although such incidents are extremely rare. Given that zoonotic prion disease is possible, experts have predicted the transition from animals to humans for a long time.
As a result, I ask for caution from the people and the authorities. The study was published in the journal Neurology.
