‘Zombie Deer Disease’ Spreads to Another US State as 2 White-Tailed Deer Test Positive in Virginia

Recently, two white-tailed deer in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), marking the first positive detection of CWD in a national park in the state. This discovery comes after the detection of CWD in deer at the nearby Antietam and Monocacy battlefield parks on the Maryland side of the Potomac River.

The National Park Service (NPS) explained that deer populations are periodically reduced at national parks, including Harpers Ferry, to protect native plants, preserve historic landscapes, and manage the impact of deer on the environment. The disease, caused by misfolded proteins called prions, affects the central nervous system of deer and leads to symptoms such as drooling, stumbling, lethargy, and a blank stare.

The infection has been referred to as “zombie deer disease” due to these symptoms, and it may take over a year for them to develop. Despite the lack of a cure or vaccine for CWD, there have been no recorded cases of the disease in humans.

However, some studies have suggested a potential risk of transmission to monkeys through infected animal meat or bodily fluids. Experts have warned of the slow-moving nature of the CWD crisis and advised governments to prepare for the possibility of transmission to humans.

Although there is no cure or vaccine for CWD at present, there have been no reported cases of the disease in humans.