In 2018, a new illness emerged, affecting deer, elk, and moose – chronic wasting disease (CWD). Since last year, the condition, popularly known as the “zombie deer disease, has spread across both the United States and Canada. More concerning is that specialists consider that CWD might also affect humans.
This illness affects the nervous system, making the brain of deer, elk, and moose practically destroying itself, turning the animals into zombie-like creatures. While in 2018 the authorities confirmed one CWD case in a farmed deer in Quebec, the so-called “zombie deer disease” has spread since last year to three provinces in Canada and more regions across the US.
In Canada, chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in both wild and farmed deer in Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. While there are no known cases of this condition in humans, CWD can infect primates, so humans might also contract this illness.
“Zombie Deer Disease” Spread Across Canada, And It Might Also Affect Humans
“Zombie deed disease” causes symptoms like depression, lack of coordination, weight loss, excess salivation, paralysis and more. Although the illness did not spread to humans just yet, people are recommended not to eat or use parts of infected deer, elk, and moose.
However, even though the experts could not confirm if “zombie deer disease” would infect humans, too, people turned to social media saying that a “zombie apocalypse” like in the Hollywood movies is coming.
“So the Zombie apocalypse is starting with a disease in their brain. People who eat deer meat are in trouble. It will slowly circulate. It’s finally here,” a Twitter user said. “This deer disease gonna start the zombie apocalypse,” another person said on Twitter.
In the end, the so-called “zombie deer disease” is not yet a threat to humans and nobody knows if it’s going to become a danger for people.
