New NIH Study Shows Deer Are Better at Social Distancing Than Humans – Chronic Wasting Disease Unlikely to Jump Species
In a groundbreaking NIH study, scientists have revealed that there is a substantial species barrier preventing the transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) from cervids (deer, elk, and moose) to humans. The study, which utilized a cerebral organoid model, suggests that deer have been practicing social distancing long before it was trendy. Chronic wasting disease is a prion disease that has long been causing anxiety among hunters and meat lovers, but the latest findings provide some much-needed reassurance.Despite this optimistic news, not everyone is entirely convinced. One disgruntled Reddit user pointed out that 'prions that move from animals to humans often increase in infection to symptom latency,' referencing the FDA's long-standing ban on blood donations from individuals who lived in the UK during the mad cow outbreaks. This user somberly noted, 'Just because there is no apparent infection within 180 days doesn’t mean humans are safe.'Another Redditor, who prefers their venison prion-free, stated, 'This is great news. I still get my game tested before I feed it to my family.' It's always nice to see hunters who care about food safety more than their Instagram game.Yet, there were those still worried about specific cases, with one pointing to a neurology article describing two hunters potentially affected by the disease. Clearly, even with studies and science, some folks just can’t take good news without a sprinkle of skepticism.On the whole, however, most folks on the internet can now breathe easy knowing their chances of catching CWD from a deer are as small as a deer in headlights. In the meantime, it's recommended we all continue to 'socially distance' from wild game – not because of CWD, but because nobody likes an uninvited tick!
In a groundbreaking NIH study, scientists have revealed that there is a substantial species barrier preventing the transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) from cervids (deer, elk, and moose) to humans. The study, which utilized a cerebral organoid model, suggests that deer have been practicing social distancing long before it was trendy. Chronic wasting disease is a prion disease that has long been causing anxiety among hunters and meat lovers, but the latest findings provide some much-needed reassurance.Despite this optimistic news, not everyone is entirely convinced. One disgruntled Reddit user pointed out that 'prions that move from animals to humans often increase in infection to symptom latency,' referencing the FDA's long-standing ban on blood donations from individuals who lived in the UK during the mad cow outbreaks. This user somberly noted, 'Just because there is no apparent infection within 180 days doesn’t mean humans are safe.'Another Redditor, who prefers their venison prion-free, stated, 'This is great news. I still get my game tested before I feed it to my family.' It's always nice to see hunters who care about food safety more than their Instagram game.Yet, there were those still worried about specific cases, with one pointing to a neurology article describing two hunters potentially affected by the disease. Clearly, even with studies and science, some folks just can’t take good news without a sprinkle of skepticism.On the whole, however, most folks on the internet can now breathe easy knowing their chances of catching CWD from a deer are as small as a deer in headlights. In the meantime, it's recommended we all continue to 'socially distance' from wild game – not because of CWD, but because nobody likes an uninvited tick!