this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2025
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‘Don’t call it zombie deer disease’: scientists warn of ‘global crisis’ as infections spread across the US (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 1 day ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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Summary

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), an incurable and fatal prion disease affecting deer, elk, moose, and reindeer, is spreading across 36 US states and other countries.

Scientists warn of a potential human spillover crisis, with tens of thousands likely consuming infected venison. Experts criticize labeling it "zombie deer disease" as it downplays the threat.

Concerns include contamination through carcass transport and feedgrounds. Calls grow for better surveillance and prevention, but conflicting policies and resistance to reducing wildlife feedgrounds hinder efforts.

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Prions are some crazy shit. Can’t treat them, can’t destroy them, if you get one you’re just fucked with our current medical technology.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Holy shit, look at what you need to do to scrub these things:

Temperatures of more than 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit — sometimes up to 1,800 degrees

A combination of heat — about 275 degrees Fahrenheit — and bursts of unimaginably high pressure — over 100,000 psi — showed promise in reducing prion infectivity, at least in processed meats like hot dogs

Infected material is placed in a solution of potassium hydroxide — also known as caustic potash — for at least six hours, at 300 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 psi, about four times ambient air pressure.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

These don't sound like a scalable cure

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago

Few things on this planet scare me as much as misfolded prions. Disgusting freaks of nature, turning organisms into living evil paperclip factories!