CWD Series Episode 12 - Is it safe to eat CWD-positive deer?

As chronic wasting disease (CWD) becomes more common, more and more hunters find themselves harvesting CWD-positive deer. You may be wondering if it’s safe to eat a deer that tests positive for CWD. This video provides the information you need to make that decision.
To learn more, visit:
CDC: www.cdc.gov/prions/cwd/preven...
CDC: www.cdc.gov/prions/cwd/transm...
Virginia DWR: dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/dis...
University of Minnesota: www.cidrap.umn.edu/cwd/faqs#S...
University of Minnesota: www.cidrap.umn.edu/cwd/faqs#C...
Iowa State University: www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factshe...

[@BulbasaurLeaves]

If deer can spread CWD prions to the environment and those prions can remain infectious for years, can humans be exposed from eating wild plants?

[@stevedemarais]

Lab studies have shown that plants can uptake prions via their roots, so the short answer is “yes” if you eat plants that have taken up prions then you could be exposed. My colleague Bronson Strickland likes to say “yes, something might be ‘possible’ but that doesn’t mean that it is necessarily ‘likely.” We are just starting to learn if and how plants might be involved in the transfer of prions from the soil environment into animals that eat those plants. If they are transferred, then we’ll need to determine if, and at what quantities of contaminated plant must be eaten before an animal is actively infected. Certainly, the most effective means of prion transfer is direct animal-to-animal transfer, but we also need to understand how “indirect” transfer is involved in disease spread (a topic we cover in another of the videos)

[@iwin1833]

A decline in deer hunting over the years has caused this I believe. with the overpopulation of deer. and also the chemicals farmers are spraying on the fields as well

[@monicagonzalez2920]

It is likely, yes. There are places in the UK from the beef scandal where the prions are still deep in the soil two decades later and we do not even build on the area because of the risk of the exposure to the dormant mad cow disease

[@Melissa0774]

How long does it take to do the test? Do you have to get it done at the place where you check the deer in, or do they sell home test that you can use yourself? Can you test meat that someone gave you?

[@msudeerlabtv5058]

It depends on the state you are in. Most state wildlife agencies provide this test, and often the test is free. It can take several days to get the results. It would be very difficult to test meat given to you simply because the labs do the testing on specific tissues, and these specialized tissues aren’t typically collected by hunters.

[@Melissa0774]

@@msudeerlabtv5058 How do they do the test? I imagine it's not some little instant test kit, like a COVID test, where you could put a blood sample from the deer on a stick and see if a line appears, right? If something like that did exist, you'd think you'd be able to buy it at sporting goods stores and places like Tractor Supply.

[@lucianaromulus1408]

​@Melissa0774 you gotta test the spinal fluid, it's similar to rabies.

[@johnnyriley455]

You sure about that? ​@lucianaromulus1408

[@Grotech.]

​@@Melissa0774 lymph nodes

[@rossdalman5507]

What are you supposed to do with the deer if it tests positive? Does it have to be burnt up in an incinerator? I would suggest the DNR start building them so the deer don't end up in a landfill.

[@markkhiezermartinez4381]

Tru but for now it's good to be ready for the break out

[@NigerianLandOwner]

What are the effects of CWD on humans?

[@monsterhog1118]

No human has ever been infected

[@msudeerlabtv5058]

To date, public health experts haven’t determined that consuming CWD infected meat can cause problems in humans, but a similar prion disease (mad cow disease) did cause problems in some individuals. As such, public health experts recommend not consuming the meat.

[@CatboyChemicalSociety]

it hasnt been proven to spread to humans but if a prion disease did infect a human and cause symptoms then the illness is terminal though idk if new treatment exists but overall not worth risking.

[@lucianaromulus1408]

​@@CatboyChemicalSocietyexactly. Let's not tempt fate into a real zombie outbreak 😂

[@Araylie]

Someone ate an infected bat, what could go wrong with an infected deer haha... Ha...

[@elyjajesus]

Cdc recommended do.not eat the meat.of any.deer.that test.positive

[@hivolt9993]

I eat the meat and I'm still alive

[@jflsdknf]

It takes decades to surface.

[@cloudboysmusic5223]

For now