Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a type of “transmissible spongiform encephalopathy” (TSE). These diseases result from infection with an abnormal form of protein known as a prion. Mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD) in humans are other examples. Diseases that originate with animals but get passed to humans are described as “zoonotic.”
In rare cases, TSEs can occur spontaneously… certain proteins in the body spontaneously transform into prions. TSEs can also be hereditary. What concerns us here is transmission from infected individuals, generally due to exposure to infected tissue or infected body fluids, especially brain or spinal cord tissue or cerebrospinal fluid.
The disease is real, but the media often sensationalize things. I saw and read the article linked above several days ago. Bear in mind, this is a synopsis and interpretation written up for a popular magazine. The original article in the neurology journal presents the facts. I thought they provided credible evidence of possible cross-species transmission, but even the authors indicated it is a suggestion, and not proof.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a division of the NIH, has a very good page with general information on TSEs. I’m not able to post a direct link with the device I am using right now, but you can find it with a simple Google search using “NINDS spongiform encepalopathies” as a search term. It is factual, informative, and easy to read, and I would recommend it if you are interested in this sort of thing.
TSEs are real, and they are not to be “blown off” or trifled with. I have seen several cases in people, and it’s ugly. However, TSEs are rare, and while the research is showing a suggestion of transmission from deer to people, I don’t see proof yet. I think it’s a good idea to keep yourself informed (via credible sources…) and to use common sense, but there is no need to panic.
Best regards,
Notchy Bob
