(WTHR) — Medical experts are concerned about a deadly disease spreading throughout the United States.
NBC affiliate KSNT reported the illness, known as "zombie deer disease" or chronic wasting disease, infects the brain, spine and tissue of deer elk or moose.
According to the CDC, the disease starts by infecting proteins in the brain and is passed through contact with contaminated bodily fluids and tissue.
Symptoms include emaciation from forgetting to eat, excessive drooling and stumbling. Unfortunately, there are no treatments or vaccines and the disease is always fatal.
But now, the CDC is sounding the alarm about the potential for that disease to infect people. Experts are worried that the disease could transfer to humans through consumption of deer meat.
Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, spoke with Kansas state lawmakers about his concern this spread to humans might happen soon.
"It is probable that human cases of chronic wasting disease associated with consumption with contaminated meat will be documented in the years ahead," Osterholm said. "It’s possible the number of human cases will be substantial, and will not be isolated events."
As of now, there are no known cases of chronic wasting disease in a person.
However, the CDC is warning the public to test venison or elk meat for the illness before eating it.