In the United States, two hunters died from a mysterious disease. Scientists suspect they contracted chronic wasting disease of deer (CWD), better known as the “zombie virus,” the scientific journal Neurology reported.
“In 2022, a 72-year-old man with a history of eating deer meat infected with CWD developed rapid onset confusion and aggression,” the publication said. Doctors diagnosed him with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which destroys the human brain. It has similar symptoms to the “zombie virus”.
Then a friend of his died who had eaten meat from an animal from the same deer population. Both men are from Wyoming. Previously, doctors had not recorded cases of human CWD infection from animals. However, scientists do not rule out this possibility and urge caution.
The “zombie virus” is widespread in 32 US states, Canada and some other countries. The disease affects moose, deer and other animals. Those infected experience apathy, weight loss and lack of coordination, and the brain turns into something similar to a sponge.