Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal disease that affects deer, elk, and related animals, according to Medical Daily.
The disease is often referred to as "zombie deer disease" because infected animals in the later stages can appear emaciated, lethargic, and disoriented.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the disease has been detected in 36 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces.
There is currently neither a treatment nor a vaccine for the disease.
Also read: Millions could feel the impact of growing drug shortages
At the same time, the infectious agent can remain in the environment for many years once it has been introduced, according to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center.
Have any humans been infected?
No confirmed cases of CWD infection in humans have been recorded so far, according to the CDC.
Nevertheless, researchers are closely monitoring developments.
The reason is that mad cow disease previously spread from animals to humans. As a result, scientists continue to investigate whether CWD could pose a long-term risk.
Also read: How salmon can affect your heart if you eat it regularly
Several countries are monitoring the disease. Among them, German authorities have launched studies of deer populations to track its spread.
Difficult to control
The disease has an incubation period of between one and a half and three years.
This means that an animal can be infected for a long time without showing signs of illness.
According to the USGS, the disease can have serious consequences for deer populations in areas where it becomes widespread.
Also read: Common vitamin shows promise against deadly brain cancer
Surprising discovery
New studies published in the journals Science Advances and Scientific Reports found prions, the infectious particles responsible for the disease, in the blood and bodily fluids of deer that appeared completely healthy.
The results show that infected animals can spread the disease through saliva, urine, feces, and blood, among other means, even when they do not show visible symptoms.
According to the researchers, this means that it is impossible to determine with the naked eye whether an animal is capable of transmitting the disease.
Also read: How to cope with the heat at work and in schools
Also read: Many people fear cancer – but these lumps are usually benign