Chronic wasting disease outbreak across america

CWD (Chronic Wasting disease) is spreading in the United States. It is an infectious disease affecting deer and elk, leaving them ‘zombie like’, according to experts.

CWD has already spread to 24 US states as of August 2019. The disease has been seen to affect animals such as reindeer, moose, elk and various deer species. It has been found in free-ranging deer and elk as well as farmed deer and elk.

What is Chronic Wasting Disease?

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer and members of the deer family. It is caused by an abnormally folded protein called a prion. The prion protein infects the animal by promoting conversion of normal cellular protein to the abnormal form. It affects the neurological system of the animal such as lymph nodes, spinal column and neural tissues, including the brain.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has an average incubation period of 2 to 4 years, meaning animals infected with CWD might not show signs of the disease for at least a year after exposure.

No treatment or vaccination has been made to cure it due, to the long incubation period. Existing tests for CWD can only detect the CWD prions once it has reached certain parts of the body.

How can you tell if an animal has CWD?

Due to the long incubation period, symptoms of CWD may not appear for at least 1-2 years after initial exposure. However, small changes in behaviour such as loss of fear in humans can often be one of the first symptoms noticed.

As the disease progresses, the most common symptoms seen in infected deer are as follows:

• Emaciation
• Excessive salivation
• Difficulty swallowing
• Excessive thirst
•  Lack of muscle coordination
•  Excessive urination

During the final stages of the disease, the animal may display symptoms such as:

• Dull expression
• A shaggy hair coat
• Exaggerated wide posture
• Loss of balance (staggering)
• Carrying the head and ears lowered.

How does it spread?

The spread of CWD is known to be transmitted through saliva, urine, blood, and faeces. Prions are known to persist and remain infectious in the environment for long periods of time

The natural movement of infected animals can spread CWD to many areas. Human-aided transportation of wild deer by hunters, or captive deer by farms further increase the risk of spreading of the disease.