Two hunters in the US have died from “zombie” deer disease after consuming meat from deer suffering from chronic wasting disease (CWD), a neurodegenerative infectious disease that is not caused by a bacterium or virus, but by misfolded proteins, known as prions.

The two unfortunate men developed similar neurological conditions and died, according to a medical publication in Science Alert, while scientists are concerned that the disease may have “passed” from the deer to humans, as it is transmitted through bodily fluids.

According to researchers at the University of Texas, a 72-year-old man who had consumed meat from an infected deer developed sudden confusion and aggression.

A 77-year-old friend of his, who had also eaten contaminated meat from the same deer population, died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, also known as subacute spongiform encephalopathy.

What is “zombie” deer disease

The disease infects the host’s brain and nervous system and usually causes behavioral changes, excessive salivation and death, according to the New York State Department of Health.

It is fatal and there are no treatments or vaccines.

Scientists believe that the disease is transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood or saliva, either through direct contact or through contamination in the environment.

Last December, experts confirmed the first case of the disease in Yellowstone National Park after a deer carcass found in the park tested positive for the highly contagious and deadly disease.

Since then, cases have been reported in deer and elk in 33 US states, as well as Canada, Norway and South Korea, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Although causation remains unproven, these incidents highlight the need for further research into the potential risks of eating contaminated venison and the public health implications,” the researchers wrote.