Chronic wasting disease has been spreading throughout the United States for decades, despite efforts to contain it. Since it was first discovered in Colorado in 1967, the disease has been identified in deer in 26 states, and the Midwest has recently seen a particularly sharp increase of its prevalence.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have found chronic wasting disease has spread fivefold among Kansas counties, raising concerns about the spread of the disease and the importance of educating hunters about it. The testing results may provide insights on where the disease is currently located and where it might be detected in the future.
Source: Feedstuffs, September 14, 2021. Link. Currently, there are no reports of humans becoming infected with chronic wasting disease by eating the meat of a deer with the disease. However, similar to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, chronic wasting disease is caused by misfolded proteins called prions, which cannot be eliminated by traditional means such as cooking or heating.