# Two Hunters Allegedly Died from 'Zombie Deer Disease' Spreading in North America and Scandinavia In a recent development that has raised significant public health concerns, two hunters in the United States are believed to have died after contracting a neurological disease linked to consuming venison from deer infected with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), often referred to as "zombie deer disease" [1]: [2]: [3]: ## The Alleged Transmission The hunters, who had consumed meat from a deer population known to be infected with CWD, developed symptoms similar to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a fatal neurological disorder. One of the hunters, a 77-year-old man, experienced rapid-onset confusion and aggression, and despite medical intervention, he passed away within a month [1]: [3]: ## Understanding Chronic Wasting Disease Chronic Wasting Disease, which has been documented in free-ranging deer, elk, and moose in at least 32 states across the continental U.S., is a prion disease. Prion diseases, characterized by the misfolding of normal proteins into an abnormal form, can lead to brain damage in affected animals. Symptoms in deer include weight loss, lack of coordination, stumbling, listlessness, drooling, and a lack of fear of people, leading to the moniker "zombie deer disease" [1]: [2]: ## Public Health Concerns Scientists and health officials have long been concerned about the potential for CWD to jump from animals to humans, similar to the transmission of mad cow disease in the United Kingdom in the 1990s. A 2022 study by Canadian researchers suggested a risk of CWD transmission to humans based on mouse research [1]: [2]: ## Spread in North America and Scandinavia While the focus has been on North America, where CWD has been spreading, there are also reports of the disease in Scandinavia. The disease was first identified in Norway in 2016 and has since been detected in other parts of the region [4]: [5]: ## Implications and Precautions The deaths of these two hunters have raised alarms about the potential for CWD to transmit to humans. Experts suggest that hunters and consumers should be cautious when handling and consuming deer meat, especially from areas known to have CWD. Research continues to investigate the exact mechanisms of transmission and the potential risks to human health [3]: ## Media ![](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/04/19/USAT/73388238007-usatsi-22397831.jpg?crop=3666,3666,x0,y0) Source: [USA Today](https://www.usatoday.com/)