New Synopsis on Chronic Wasting Disease in USA

A new synopsis in EID by Saunders et al. summarizes 'Occurrence, Transmission, and Zoonotic Potential of Chronic Wasting Disease'.

Selected key messages include:

- CWD continues to emerge and spread in free-ranging and captive cervids throughout the United States and Canada

- prevalence appears to be increasing in many disease-endemic areas

- the disease could have severe effects on free-ranging deer populations

- CWD prions are [...] present nearly ubiquitously throughout a diseased host, including skeletal muscle

- the potential for human exposure to CWD by handling and consumption of infectious cervid material is substantial

- the potential for CWD transmission to humans is low, and such transmission has not been documented through ongoing surveillance

- There are several reasons for caution with respect to zoonotic and interspecies CWD transmission

• distinct CWD strains exist [and ... the] zoonotic potential of CWD may also vary with CWD strain
• passage of the CWD agent may also increase the risk for zoonotic CWD transmission
• years of prevention could be lost if zoonotic transmission of CWD is subsequently identified

- complete eradication is currently not feasible.

Source: Saunders SE, Bartelt-Hunt SL, Bartz JC. Occurrence, transmission, and zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2012 Mar [Feb 24]. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1803.110685