NEW YORK, Dec 25: In the wake of hundreds of reported cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) affecting animals in the United States over the past year, scientists are cautioning about the potential transmission of what has been dubbed "zombie deer disease" to humans. The ailment, characterized by symptoms like drooling, lethargy, stumbling, and a vacant stare, has been identified in 800 samples obtained from deer, elk, and moose across Wyoming.

Experts have labeled CWD as a "slow-moving disaster" and are strongly advising governments to prepare for the likelihood of its transmission to humans. Drawing parallels to the mad cow disease outbreak in Britain, which demonstrated the rapid escalation of consequences following a spillover event, CWD researcher Dr. Cory Anderson emphasized the importance of readiness. While acknowledging that it's not guaranteed to happen, the potential risks warrant preparation.

Recalling the UK's experience with mad cow disease in the 1980s and 1990s, where 4.4 million cattle were slaughtered due to infected meat and bonemeal consumption, CWD poses a comparable threat. The disease, predominantly fatal for cattle, affects the central nervous system, inducing aggressive symptoms and impaired coordination. Since 1995, 178 human deaths have been linked to the human variant of the disease.

Alarming data reveals that in 2017, 7,000 to 15,000 CWD-infected animals were being consumed by humans annually, with an anticipated annual increase of 20%. Dr. Anderson expressed concerns that thousands in Wisconsin might have unknowingly consumed meat from infected deer.

Compounding the issue, CWD is notoriously challenging to eradicate once it infiltrates an environment, with the ability to persist for extended periods in soil or on surfaces. Scientists highlight its resistance to disinfectants, formaldehyde, radiation, and incineration at extremely high temperatures (1,100°F or 600°C).

This warning coincides with the recent alert from US biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks, predicting that diseases transmitted from animals to humans could result in 12 times more fatalities in 2050 than in 2020. The company cites climate change and deforestation as contributing factors to the potential rise in zoonotic disease epidemics. According to their research, between 1963 and 2019, epidemics increased by almost 5% annually, with deaths rising by 9%. If these trends persist, the analyzed pathogens could cause four times the number of spillover events and 12 times the number of deaths in 2050 compared to 2020.