The Behavior of Zombie Deer
There are more than just rumors that have documented these deer, who appear to be in a trance-like state. They are seen walking erratically, with no apparent purpose, displaying signs of illness such as weight loss, excessive salivation, and eventually the inability to move. Although not all of these cases have been officially confirmed, the increase in reports has many wondering what the true cause of this state is.
Due to a known parasite As with EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease), deer can present symptoms that resemble a zombie state. However, there are other possibilities that we are considering and will present below.
Causes of the Disease
The main suspected cause behind the zombie state of deer is Chronic Spongiform Encephalopathy (CWD). This is a disease of deer, related to the same family of conditions that includes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and the dreaded “mad cow” disease.
- CWD It is a neurodegenerative disease that causes holes to form in the brain tissue of deer, leading them to exhibit abnormal behavior and physical exhaustion.
- EHD is another possible cause of this behavior, although infected deer usually recover with appropriate medical treatment.
Impact on Humans
Although there are no documented cases of transmission to humans yet, concern has led scientists to conduct infectivity tests. Using animal models, they have found that there is a potential risk that CWD can cross the species barrier.
In its pure state, the infectious agent appears to be incapable of infecting humans, but if any changes occur, problems could arise. This is not unlikely, given the ability of these agents to mutate.
Prevention and Control
Currently, there is no known cure for CWD and this proves to be a major challenge in controlling and preventing the disease.
- The main strategy has been to implement quarantine measures in an effort to stop the spread of the infection.
- Hunting and culling of sick deer is also carried out in an attempt to contain the spread of the disease.
Facing the Situation
With growing concern about 'zombie' deer and whether this disease can put humans at risk, Experts are calling for to better understand CWD. Additional research is needed to determine the real threat this condition could pose in the future.
There is a need to continue raising awareness about the need to report sightings of deer that appear sick or are behaving strangely. This can help researchers get a clearer picture of the prevalence of CWD and take more effective measures to eradicate it.