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Chronic Wasting Disease (ref), a silent killer spreading through North America’s cervid population, including deer, elk, moose, and caribou, is a tale of negligence and missed warnings.
Dr. Thomas Roffe, a veteran wildlife health expert, views the confirmation of CWD in Yellowstone as a vital wake-up call (ref). The park’s diverse ecosystem and migratory patterns of its wildlife create a natural laboratory for observing the disease’s impact.
The specter of CWD jumping the species barrier looms large. Similar to the mad cow disease outbreak in the UK (ref), CWD has the potential to infect humans, livestock, and other mammals.
As hunting season unfolds, the CDC and individual states are urging hunters to test game animals for CWD. The consumption of infected meat poses a significant, yet often underestimated, risk to public health.