Horror warning over ‘zombie illness’ that makes you ‘waste away’ and will infect people
‘Zombie deer disease’ symptoms include severe weight loss, excessive thirst and urination, appearing out of it and a lack of coordination – and experts say humans are at risk of contracting the illness
A horrific “zombie disease” with a host of weird symptoms could spread from deer to humans if we eat contaminated meat, experts have warned.
A report funded by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources warned that “zombie deer disease” could soon spill over into humans. The strange, deadly illness, also called chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been found in wild pigs that eat contaminated meat.
Researcher fear that the disease could now soon spread to domestic pigs, which means it will sooner or later reach humans. CWD causes severe weight loss, behavioural changes, excessive thirst and urination. Sufferers can appear “out of it”, display a lack of coordination, drool and make ears droopy. It can also stop animals from being scared of humans, The Mirror reports.
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Infectious diseases researcher at the University of Minnesota, Dr Michael Osterholm said: “We have some limited data now suggesting that feral pigs might be infected. If they can get infected, surely it’s possible domestic swine could also become infected? What would that do to the swine market? What would that do to the cattle market? These are huge issues.”
The disease has been found in at least 33 US states, including Wyoming, Wisconsin, Colorado and Pennsylvania.
Researchers also warned the illness could be transmitted to humans by infected deer meat trapped by hunters. Specialists in the report also warned than the disease could spread to humans through infected deer that are trapped by hunters, reports Mail Online.
Even though pork and venison are usually cooked before eating, heating the meat up concentrates the toxins, meaning you could still become infected if you ate contaminated meat.
There is no cure for the illness, and it can be contracted through faeces, blood and saliva of an infected animal also.
Dr Osterholm said: “We know that people are being exposed [to CWD] through consumption [of meat] with prions. What we don’t understand yet is what would it take for that prion to actually infect that human with ingestion.”
According to the Center for Disease and Control Prevention, it could take years for the symptoms to present in animals. The website states: “Scientists think CWD spreads between animalsthrough contact with saliva, blood, urine or feces of an animal with CWD.
“They suspect it can also spread indirectly through the environment, such as in soil, drinking water or food. Once an animal gets sick, the disease moves to its brain and spine and eventually kills the animal. CWD does not appear to naturally infect cows, other livestock or pets.”
