My last note was early last year also on Chronic Wasting Disease, but prion disease is back in the news. This time, due to its dramatic spread within dense areas across Montana’s High Line, the Southern Border and in the Yaak area. No cases have been identified in Glacier National Park, but a close friend accosted a thin staggering confused whitetail doe in the Hungry Horse Dam area meeting the description of an animal with advanced disease.

Prion disease is always fatal.

This scary incurable infectious disorder is primarily found in animals but there are variations that affect humans and experts expect the CWD form will eventually infect humans who consume infected game.

A real concern is the spread in big game here and across the United States (also around the world). In the 1990s, the spread to humans from eating prion infected meat killed hundreds of humans infected with the mad cow prion in Europe. The Chronic Wasting Disease prion (CWD) is a similar abnormal protein that spread to deer, moose, and elk. Over the past couple of years, it has become an epidemic in Montana deer due to its contagion.

At first just a few cases were found along the Colorado border after it spread from sheep to deer in a 1969 research study in Colorado. Now it has spread across Montana and crossed the Rockies to this area. Cases have been identified in Yellowstone National Park animals.

Infected animals show no symptoms of the disease for years but are infectious during this period so all game meat should be tested even if the animal appears normal.

 Prions are not just found in lymphoid and brain tissue, they are in tissues throughout the body including muscle.

Meat handlers should wear gloves for butchering and carefully decontaminate tools and surfaces, including counters, knives, and truck beds, anything contaminated by blood.  If an animal tests positive, the meat should not be consumed or used as animal feed.

Prions are difficult to destroy. Usual cleansing solutions and cooking do not destroy the abnormal infectious proteins. Incineration, and soaking surfaces, knives, and tools used in meat preparation in a 10% Clorox solution are effective. Without careful procedures, products in meat processing locations can result in cross-contamination.

Proper disposal of infected carcasses is essential because prions are stable in soil for decades, are taken up into plants and can infect grazing animals.  There can also be cross species spread to scavenger animals, so unfortunately, stopping the spread is unlikely.

CWD information is found at the Fish Wildlife and Parks website:

https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/chronic-wasting-disease

Betty Kuffel, Author of Fatal Feast