From Delish
Deer with “chronic wasting disease” have been found across 24 states recently, CBS News reports. The disease rots the brains of deer, elk, and moose and could be potentially harmful or even fatal to humans who ingest the meat of these animals.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease causes lethargy in animals and also prompts them to be less afraid of humans (hence the nickname “zombie deer”). The combination of those symptoms increases the chances the deer will be hunted and subsequently consumed. CWD also eventually causes death for animals.
While there have not yet been any reports of the disease transmitted to humans, the CDC warns the incubation period for the disease can be more than a year, so not only can symptoms appear belatedly in animals, but it’s also possible that if a person has ingested contaminated venison meat, it may just be awhile before symptoms occur. Because it’s unclear how the disease could spread to humans (we know that it likely spreads through bodily fluids amongst animals), the organization asks hunters not to even handle potentially infected meat at this time.
It’s advised you do not go near any venison that seems sick or is found dead. Still, because of the incubation period, infected animals may seem fine at first; the Wyoming Game & Fish Department notes “the majority of CWD positive animals that are harvested appear completely normal and healthy.”
You can find a complete list of all the places zombie deer have been found here.
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