Despite no reported cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) – commonly known as the “zombie deer virus” – in the Middle East so far, doctors in the UAE are urging continued precautions as global case numbers climb.
Infected animals can display neurological symptoms such as impaired cognition and changes in behaviour ultimately resulting in death. The disease affects animals like deer, elk, reindeer, sika deer and moose.
“Affected animals tend to exhibit unusual behaviours such as staggering, emaciation, and aggression. The disease is contagious and spreads among cervids through direct or indirect contact with bodily fluids or contaminated environments,” said Dr. Mohamed Ahmed El Maghawri Shanab, Internal Medicine specialist at Burjeel Royal Hospital in Abu Dhabi’s Al Ain.
CWD spreads across US regions
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Chronic Wasting Disease has been reported in at least 31 US states, three Canadian provinces, and select countries in Europe and Asia. First identified in captive deer in Colorado in the 1960s, it emerged in wild deer in 1981 and has since spread to affect many regions of the continental US.
So far, no cases of CWD transmission to humans have been reported. However, experimental research suggests that “it is a possibility, especially if human eat infected meat,” Dr. Saheer Sainalabdeen, Specialist Pulmonologist at Dubai’s Medeor Hospital, told Arabian Business.
The CDC estimates that people in the US may consume up to 15,000 animals each year that have CWD but are not tested. Additionally, normal cooking temperatures are not always high enough to kill the abnormal prion proteins that cause CWD. In animals, it spreads through body fluids like saliva, urine, and feces. The prion proteins can also remain in the environment for a long period of time.
“As a precaution, the World Health Organisation (WHO) advises against consuming CWD-infected animals,” added Dr. Shanab.
“The good news is that CWD hasn’t been detected in the Middle East yet. Stringent biosecurity measures and limited natural cervid populations are likely to play a role.”
Zoonotic threats: CWD vs. COVID-19
Zoonotic diseases — viruses that spread from animals to humans, like COVID-19 — have the potential to wreak havoc if not contained. However, unlike the Coronavirus which was airborne, CWD primarily affects cervids, limiting its zoonotic spread and “further reduces the chances of a pandemic,” he added.
“In contrast to zoonotic diseases like COVID-19, CWD doesn’t pose an immediate global threat. Its transmission dynamics and impact on human health remain a subject of intensive study.”
Echoing Dr. Shanab’s sentiment, Dr. Sainalabdeen said that while CWD does not yet pose a serious risk of human infection or become the next pandemic, all medical authorities should “be prepared for a disease which is highly contagious, incurable and invariably deadly.”
At present, there is no available treatment or vaccine to cure CWD.
In a recent interview with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, wildlife disease ecologist Krysten Schuler from Cornell University said CWD could potentially be zoonotic.
“Mad cow disease, which belongs to the same family of illnesses as CWD, originated in cattle, but humans can get a variant called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which is fatal,” added Dr. Sainalabdeen.
For now, both experts reiterate the Middle East faces low direct risk with no reported CWD cases. Still, adhering to precautions like avoiding sick animals, using protective gloves when handling hunted deer meat and not consuming infected products could help curb any potential future transmission if the disease does reach the region. With global case numbers climbing, doctors say such measures are important to stay ahead of the risk posed by this still enigmatic prion illness.
“Described as a “slow-moving disaster,” CWD represents a persistent and gradual threat, primarily affecting wildlife populations. However, its immediate risk to human health remains under investigation. Continuous vigilance and research are vital to comprehensively understand and mitigate the potential risks associated with this enigmatic virus,” said Dr. Shanab.
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