"Scientists Investigate Human Risk from 'Zombie' Deer Disease"

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal prion disease affecting deer and other cervids, is spreading across North America, raising concerns about potential human transmission. The disease, which causes severe neurological decline, is difficult to detect and has no cure. Researchers are intensifying efforts to understand and control CWD, with some studies suggesting prions could eventually infect humans. The disease's spread is exacerbated by animal feeding operations and environmental persistence of prions, posing significant ecological and public health challenges.