Can Humans Get CWD?
Though many observers try to compare CWD with “mad cow disease”, the diseases are distinctly different. Currently, there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk for humans; however, public health officials recommend that human exposure to the CWD infectious agent be avoided as they continue to evaluate any potential health risk.
The World Health Organization has reviewed available scientific information and concluded that currently there is no evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans. During the period 1997-1998, three cases of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) occurred in the U.S. in young adults. These individuals had consumed venison. This led to speculation about possible transmission of CWD from deer or elk to humans. However, review of the clinical records and pathological studies of all three cases by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, did not find a causal link to CWD.
Nonetheless, health and wildlife officials advise caution. Hunters are encouraged not to consume meat from animals known to be infected. In addition, hunters should take common sense precautions when field dressing and processing deer or elk taken in areas where CWD is found.
More information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol10no6/03-1082.htm
Source:
http://cwd-info.org/faq/
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We've eaten deer pretty much every year since the late 70's. Sons were raised on it in the winter, along with many other game birds, animals + fish. We don't eat "apparently sick" game. ( who would?) There has been CWD reported less than 25 miles from us, and less than a mile or so from where we used to live( same area) within the last 10 years or so , but this CWD has only started becoming apparent in the last 10 years or so, IIRC. I do not know where it is coming from, but it is apparently here. {
There "was" a large game farm located right near the location I am talking about between Pine Island,MN & Oronoco,MN where we used to live, and that is the presumed origin of the CWD. BTW, there is a smaller, but still decent sized game farm about 7 miles East of me & has been for the last 21 years. We've hunted about 2 miles or less from that farm for the last 21 years. NO reported cases of CWD near there.}
The MnDNR has special hunts to try to eradicate most of the possibility of CWD in a certain area by having special hunts & checking every deer killed for CWD. There are studies done on the amount of deer killed & the amount of CWD found in those deer, but I do not have the data to share here. One would have to go research it. I do not think it is a large amount since it would have been more widely reported if it was.
There is also an area of CWD down further in SE MN from me about 70 miles So., this year where they are allowing a special hunt to do the same attempt at eradication thru hunting & testing as the earlier hunts I mentioned. I have not yet heard of those results as that hunt just ended about 2 months ago. {
within 10-15 miles or less from my oldest sons home, but he has yet to hunt the area, although we did hunt one year in that Houston County area back in the late 90's on a buddies, Jimbo M. uncle's land. My oldest got his first deer down there.}
I do not intend on stopping hunting or eating venison, nor other wild game. It is a personal choice and each of us has to decide what we think is good in our diet, including parents/guardians for their children/wards. IMO, the chances of getting another food oriented illness or medical condition from other foods is likely higher than contracting CWD. Simply, "by the odds", since most all eat so much of the other foods, as compared to the amount of venison consumed.
Suit yourselves though. Like I said, a "personal choice". It is not gonna stop me though. YMMV, of course.