First Confirmed in US Yellowstone National Park
"Humans Infected Within 10 Years Expected"
The first case of deer disease, commonly known as 'zombie deer,' has been confirmed in a U.S. national park, prompting authorities to declare an emergency.
A Wyoming deer suffering from chronic wasting disease, a highly contagious illness. [Photo by CWD Alliance]
According to major foreign media reports on the 14th (local time), a deer infected with chronic wasting disease was recently confirmed for the first time in Yellowstone National Park, the world's first and the United States' representative national park, which spans northwestern Wyoming, southern Montana, and eastern Idaho.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) evokes images of 'zombie deer.' It infects deer species such as deer and elk, damaging the central nervous system and causing the brain to develop sponge-like holes. Infected animals exhibit symptoms such as drooling and collapsing, similar to cows with mad cow disease. Compared to healthy deer, those with CWD are less fearful of humans and lose their facial expressions.
CWD was called 'Gwangrokbyeong' in Korea, but its use has been discouraged due to concerns over the derogatory nature of the term.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, CWD has spread over the past few years to 23 U.S. states, 2 Canadian provinces, and places including Korea. The U.S. National Park Service stated in an official release, "Currently, there is no evidence that CWD can infect humans or other livestock species," but also advised, "However, it is recommended that people avoid consuming tissues or meat from infected animals."
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency in Korea also maintains that unlike mad cow disease, CWD is not a zoonotic disease. However, since there is currently no vaccine or treatment for CWD, infection can be fatal, so caution is necessary.
Domestic Cases Reported... Can Humans Also Be Infected?
A Wyoming deer suffering from chronic wasting disease, a highly contagious illness. [Photo by CWD Alliance]
Professor Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota warned in a 2019 paper presented to the American Society for Microbiology that "if deer meat infected with CWD is consumed, there will be a latency period of several years before symptoms caused by the misfolded protein 'prions' appear," and predicted that "cases of humans infected with CWD will gradually emerge within 10 years."
Unlike bacteria or viruses, prions can persist in the environment for years without being destroyed and can be transmitted through saliva or excrement. Accordingly, extensive campaigns are currently underway in Canada and the United States to strongly recommend not hunting infected deer or, if hunted, to consume the meat only after specific testing.
There have also been domestic cases of CWD. The first case in Korea was reported in 2001, with no cases reported after 19 cases in 2010, but it is known to have reoccurred in 2016. In 2022, CWD was detected at farms in regions such as Uiryeong and Jinju, leading to the culling of all animals, and since 2018, cases of CWD have been reported annually.
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