‘Zombie deer disease’ detected in pigs raising fears ‘brain-destroying proteins’ could spread to humans via PORK

SCIENTISTS have warned ‘zombie deer disease’, fatal to every animal it infects, has potential to spread to humans.

Medically known as chronic wasting disease (CWD), the condition leaves deer confused, drooling and unafraid of humans.

According to a new report, the disease has now been found in wild pigs – with scientists now warning it could spread to domestic pigs and pose a risk to humans.

Dr Michael Osterholm, a top infectious diseases researcher at the University of Minnesota, 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.”

Also in the report funded by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, experts warned the disease could spread to humans via infected deer caught by hunters.

Zombie deer disease is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.

It’s caused by abnormal prion proteins that damage the brain and nervous system, leading to behavioural changes resembling zombie-like traits.

The condition affects members of the deer family, such as white-tailed deer, mule, deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.

While there’s currently no confirmed evidence CWD can infect humans, Dr Bruno Silvester Lopes, lecturer in microbiology at Teesside University, human transmission cannot be ruled out.

Dr Lopes, who wasn’t involved in the new report, said: “The abnormal prions responsible for CWD are similar to those causing other prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

“Studies have shown the possibility of prions crossing the species barrier under certain conditions, so the risk, although considered low, cannot be entirely ruled out.

“Recent reports highlight that it has now been detected in wild pigs that consume infected meat, with researchers warning that it is only a few steps away from potentially spreading to domestic pigs and could potentially spread to humans.

“This is significant because if the disease enters food systems involving pork and venison, the prion proteins cannot be destroyed and could prove fatal to humans.”

CWD is invariably fatal. Once symptoms appear, the disease progresses until the animal dies.

Cases have only been reported in North America, South Korea, and parts of Europe including Norway, Finland and Sweden.

And at the moment, risk of CWD in the UK is minimal.

Dr Lopes advised: “The UK has stringent import restrictions on animal products, particularly from areas where CWD is prevalent, which reduces the likelihood of introduction.

“However, constant surveillance is essential to prevent its spread.”

The best way to avoid CWD if you’re in an affected area, according to Dr Lopes, is to:

• Avoid consuming meat and milk or handling parts from cervids known to be infected.
• Follow local wildlife and hunting regulations.
• Wear gloves when handling deer or elk carcasses if you hunt.
• Follow strict biosecurity.
• Do not feed animal protein to ruminants including deer or processed animal protein to farmed deer.

He added: “Efforts by wildlife agencies to monitor and contain CWD also focus on identifying infected populations, restricting movement of animals, and educating hunters and the general public.”