Will humans become infected after eating ‘zombie deer’? First case of infection in famous U.S. national park[핵잼 사이언스]

The first case of deer disease, also known as ‘zombie deer’, was confirmed in a U.S. national park, putting authorities on alert.

Recently, a deer with bright green disease was confirmed for the first time in Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first and representative national park in the United States, spanning northwestern Wyoming, southern Montana, and eastern Idaho.

The official name of the yellow rust disease identified in Yellowstone National Park is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). It infects deer and elk and other deer species, causing damage to the central nervous system and destroying the brain, creating holes like a sponge. Accompanied by symptoms.

Compared to ordinary deer, they become less afraid of humans, their facial expressions disappear, and they drool or sit down like a cow with mad cow disease. This is why deer with this disease are called ‘zombie deer.’

According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), blood samples from deer living in Yellowstone National Park were taken and tested several times, and the result was positive for mad rust disease.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, in recent years, mad rot disease has spread to 23 U.S. states, 2 Canadian provinces, and Korea.

“There is currently no evidence that mad rust can infect humans or other livestock species,” the U.S. National Park Service said in an official statement. “However, we recommend that people do not consume tissues or meat from animals infected with mad rust.” He said.

He then emphasized, “Because there is currently no vaccine or treatment for mad rust, this disease is 100% fatal.”

Are there any concerns about human infection?

According to experts, like mad cow disease, mad rust disease is caused by prions, which are modified proteins. Unlike bacteria or viruses, this disease is not destroyed in nature for several years and can be transmitted through saliva or excrement.

Professor Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota, who is considered an expert on mad cow disease, said in a paper published at the American Society for Microbiology in 2019, “When venison infected with mad cow disease is consumed, it takes a few minutes for symptoms caused by the modified prion to appear. “There will be an incubation period of several years,” he warned. “Within 10 years, cases of humans infected with mad rust disease will appear one after another.”

Accordingly, experts have raised their voices that a large-scale campaign should be held in Canada and the United States, where zombie deer are found, to strongly encourage people not to hunt infected deer, or to eat meat after hunting them and passing specific tests.

Dr. Mark Zabel of Colorado State University, USA, said in an interview with UPI in 2019, “Disease can also spread through processing facilities that process venison into sausages and steaks. “This is because prions can contaminate equipment that cuts or processes meat,” he said, warning, “These processing plants could have dire consequences down the food chain.”

Reporter Song Hyeon-seo [email protected]