Could chronic wastage extend to humans?

Bismarck – Experts are worried about the chronic debilitating disease that is slowly spreading in the North Dakota deer population.

It's a question of "when" as opposed to "if", and this question is about when the first human case of chronic debilitating disease will be discovered.

"It is likely that human cases of chronic debilitating disease badociated with the consumption of contaminated meat will be documented in the coming years," said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Policies. University of Minnesota.

And for some, it's terrifying, and North Dakota is not immune to the MDC. In fact, since 2008, 15 cases of MDC have been documented throughout the state, while cases have been found in deer in 24 other states, including all states of North Dakota, including the Saskatchewan.

Dr. Charlie Bahnson, Wildlife Veterinarian for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, tells me that he thinks a human case would be rare.

"At the moment, all the evidence indicates that the chances of that happening are very, very low, that being said, you can never say that there is none," he said. said Bahnson.

The hunters I talked to, like Jeff Bakken, said that the fact that CWD was there did not scare him and his friends …

We do not really think about it, but they have already done some tests on your deer head, but I have never recovered anything, so I'm not really worried about it. "

although no human cases have been discovered, studies on monkeys have shown that those who consume contaminated meat are actually infected.

But Bakken tells me that he would probably take the chance and consume CWD meat.

"It's a tough question, I say I would do it now, but would I really do it if I was told, I do not know."

But Bahnson says that it's better to prevent than cure …

"If you harvest a deer where we know that CWD is present, have it tested and wait until you consume that meat until you get a negative result."

The game and fisheries departments say they consider the MDC as the biggest threat to the future of big game hunting across the state and that they will do all that who is in their power to eradicate it.

Experts say that if you think you have come into contact with a contaminated deer gall, the game and the fish service are immediately.