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Michael Osterholm warned of the risk of rapid transmission of the disease through chronic dieback that mainly affects deer, elk and moose. A study has already revealed that monkeys eating infected deer meat contracted the disease. ( pixabay )
More than 20 states in the United States have already reported cases of animal disease leading to brain wasting and for which no vaccine or treatment is currently available.
As chronic debilitating disease spreads among deer, elk and moose in 24 states and two Canadian provinces, health officials fear that humans will also be at risk of contamination.
MDC in monkeys who ate infected deer meat
The disease is spread by contact with body fluids and contaminated tissues. Animals can also be infected by indirect exposure to CWD in the environment, for example in foods and drinking water.
No case of MDC has yet been reported in humans, but research suggests that there is a potential risk. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited a study in 2017 that found that monkeys eating infected deer meat contracted the disease.
"Studies in animals suggest that MDC poses a risk to certain types of nonhuman primates, such as monkeys, who eat meat from CWD infected animals or come into contact with brain fluids. or bodily from infected deer or elk, "said the CDC. "These studies raise fears for people."
Illness can soon be pbaded on to humans
Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, said the animal disease pbaded on to humans could soon occur.
"It is likely that human cases of chronic debilitating disease badociated with the consumption of contaminated meat will be documented in the coming years," Osterholm said. "It is possible that the number of human cases is substantial and not an isolated event."
Osterholm compared the situation to the mad cow disease that killed cattle in the UK in the 1980s and 1990s. Initial doubts were that the disease could spread to humans, but 156 people in the UK One finally died from the consequences of the infection.
How MDC will probably infect humans
The CDC said that the most likely way of transmitting CWD to humans is the consumption of infected deer meat.
According to the Alliance for Public Wildlife, 7,000 to 15,000 CWD infected animals are consumed each year and this number may increase by 20% per year. While more infected meat is being consumed, Osterholm added that the risk of contamination from the disease and infecting humans could also increase.
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