New report addresses risk of Chronic Wasting Disease jumping from deer to humans

DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – In a first-of-its-kind report recently published by the University of Minnesota, researchers have turned their attention to the risk of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) jumping from deer to other species, like farm animals or people.

The disease is fatal to deer and other cervids, like elk, and has no vaccine or treatment.

Project co-director Cory Anderson with The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy says he believes we would not be prepared for what researchers call a spillover of CWD from deer to other species.

“If we did see it spill over, I think, you know, the current resources that are available, the current, you know, structures in place, I think would be grossly insufficient,” said Anderson.

CWD has been around for more than 50 years and there hasn’t been a human case, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible.

“That’s reassuring, of course, but at the same time, it sort of falls under the assumption that this is a static disease,” said Anderson.

Similar to diseases like mad cow, which did spill over to humans, CWD is caused by infectious proteins, which can change over time.

Given CWD’s increasing prevalence in deer and the increasing human exposure, researchers say there is increased risk of spillover.

The report details areas in which there would be response gaps.

“We should probably be having these conversations now ahead of time, versus, you know, trying to set up plans or think through things after it were to occur, if it does,” said Anderson.

While deer populations in southern Minnesota have been hit hard, Melissa Koelsch from the MN DNR said the Northland has seen only a handful of cases detected in Grand Rapids since 2022.

There have also been confirmed cases in Northwest Wisconsin.

“But that’s where early detection and landowners’ or recreators’ or hunters’ eyes out in the field are helpful,” said Koelsch. “So again, just encouraging folks to make those contacts to area offices if you see a deer that you think has symptoms.”

Koelsch says the disease is often detected in a new area by hunters getting their deer tested.

She says people can also limit the spread by both reading the regulations book before hunting season and by not feeding deer, which brings wildlife together and increases the risk of spread.

While there hasn’t yet been a case in humans, the CDC recommends not eating meat from deer that test positive for CWD.

The DNR adds that anyone can have their deer sampled, whether they’re in a surveillance zone where it’s required or not.

CWD testing options can be found here, and other resources from the DNR can be found here.

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