Source: TN
Context: Health officials in Florida have confirmed new cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)—popularly known as “Zombie Deer Disease”—marking the state’s second detected instance of the fatal neurological infection in wild deer.
About Zombie Deer Disease:
- What it is?
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- A fatal neurological disorder that affects deer, elk, and moose, caused by abnormal prion proteins that damage the brain and nervous system.
- Classified under Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) — the same group as mad cow disease (BSE).
- Origin:
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- First detected in Colorado, USA, in the 1960s, it has now spread across 34 U.S. states, including Florida (2023, 2025), Canada, and parts of Europe.
- The 2025 detection marks its geographical expansion into the southeastern U.S.
- Vector (Causative Agent):
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- Caused by infectious prions, misfolded proteins that trigger the breakdown of normal brain proteins.
- These prions are resistant to heat, radiation, and disinfectants, making them extremely persistent in the environment.
- Spread Through:
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- Direct animal contact via saliva, urine, or feces.
- Environmental contamination from infected carcasses, soil, and plants where prions can survive for years.
- Scavengers and hunters may spread infection through tools, carcasses, or deer-urine lures.
- No human cases reported, but health agencies urge caution and limited exposure.
- Symptoms:
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- Drastic weight loss (wasting), unsteady movement, and loss of fear of humans.
- Drooling, lethargy, blank stares, and abnormal behaviour similar to “zombie-like” movements.
- Disease progression is slow but irreversible, leading to death.
- Treatment and Control: No vaccine or cure exists; management focuses on containment and surveillance.
