Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, is a deadly brain illness that mainly hits deer and elk. Scientists wanted to know if the disease could move to other animals.
So far, no person has ever been found with CWD. Still, the new study shows the disease can spread in ways we didn’t expect. This means we must keep watching it closely.
CWD is caused by tiny, infectious proteins called prions. These prions are hard to destroy and can stay in soil and plants for years. Infected animals can release them in urine and poop long before they look sick.
Researchers at the University of Calgary and partners did lab experiments to test if prions could jump to other species. Most test animals stayed healthy, but tiny amounts of prions were found in their bodies. When those samples were given to a different animal, the new animal showed clear signs of CWD.
Prions are tricky because they can change shape when they move from one host to another. This can create new strains that act differently. That makes it hard to predict where the disease will go.
The study does not say people are in danger right now. However, scientists remind us that prion diseases have crossed species before—like mad cow disease moving from cattle to humans.
Even with a strong barrier between CWD and people, the disease is spreading faster in wildlife. The more animals it reaches, the higher the chance of unexpected exposure.
To fight the spread, researchers are testing early‑stage vaccines in mouse models that act like deer and elk. Vaccinated animals released fewer prions and lived longer after infection.
Understanding how CWD spreads and changes is key to protecting both wildlife and public health. Ongoing monitoring and new tools, such as vaccines, could help keep the disease in check.