In a scattershot pattern that now extends from coast to coast, continental US states have been announcing new hotspots of chronic wasting disease (CWD).

The contagious and always-fatal neurodegenerative disorder infects the cervid family that includes deer, elk, moose and, in higher latitudes, reindeer. There is no vaccine or treatment.

  • Machinist@lemmy.world
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    10 hours ago

    The most recent research I heard was that human transmission was highly unlikely. It was kind of a big deal and happy news. The experiment involved high prion concentrations and human cells with a long exposure.

    A few years ago, there was successful primate transfer, IIRC.

    This is something I watch pretty closely.

    Best controls are natural predators or heavy hunting to reduce population density.