Can Chronic Wasting Disease affect similar species not just White Tailed Deer?

Question

Does CWD affect other species such as Mule Deer, Elk, Moose, etc? And if it can't what's the chances of it mutating into something similar to the bird flu?

Answer 1

CWD (transmissible spongiform encephalopathy) is the "deer version" of Mad Cow Disease (Bovine spongiform encephalopathy). It's called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in people, and Scrapie in Sheep. It effects all species of Deer, Elk and Moose. It is, most likely, transmissible to people.

As far as being like bird flu, this is easier to catch and more universally deadly, but also extremely easy to avoid. I wouldn't worry about either, to tell the truth.

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure you would know it if the animal had it. I saw videos of cows with and, and they would go crazy and have seizures. Yes other animals can get it, including people suposedly.

My dad runs a small meat market, and we process alot of deer(over 600 this year I believe). Last year there was a scare of the disease. They came in and took samples of the brains, but didn't find any cases of the disease. It was rather weird because they would skin the head for some reason, and they looked crazy. The guys really got in the way though, and I dont think they liked us too much after a few days. This year they came in, and my father told them to leave because they were just getting in our way and wasting our time(I think they came back a few weeks later when we werent so busy).

This disease will not break out into a bird flu. First off, it is very rare, and has been controlled very well. Second, it is a disease of the central nervous system, nothing like the flu. The scare with the bird flu is that birds will spread it all over the world very quickly. Unless CWD somehow spreads to bird, it will not spread very quickly, and can be controlled.

Answer 3

Yes, it affects all species of deer including Elk and Moose. Yes, there have been documented cases of it in people that have eaten infected deer meat. No, I don't worry about it, even though I live in an area where CWD deer have been found. In my state, they test the deer at the check-in-station and send you a card telling you if it is positive or negative.

Answer 4

Yes, CWD also affects elk, mule deer, and potentially every deer like animal. Virginia is trying to keep elk from coming here from Tennessee and Kentucky because of the potential of CWD being spread from elk to our whitetails.