Outbreak of 'Zombie' Deer Disease Strikes Yellowstone National Park

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a "zombie-like" illness that slowly kills deer, has been confirmed for the first time at Yellowstone National Park. The disease, which causes excessive drooling, ear drooping, and reluctance to move, has no effective eradication method once established. CWD has been found in a dead adult mule deer near Yellowstone Lake, and approximately 15% of mule deer migrating into Yellowstone from Cody, Wyoming, during the summer are estimated to have the disease. CWD has been reported in 31 US states and can affect deer, elk, reindeer, and moose. While there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans, studies are being conducted to assess the risk to people who come into contact with infected animals or their meat.