Chronic Wasting Disease - An Emerging Prion Disease of Cervids

Learn about the emerging threat of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in this comprehensive lecture presented by Dr. Jason Bartz, exploring the fatal prion disease affecting cervids across North America and Scandinavia. Discover how this highly contagious condition can impact over 50% of animal populations in affected areas, and examine the current understanding of its transmission potential, including the debated risk of human infection. Delve into the parallels with other zoonotic prion diseases like mad cow disease while understanding the unique challenges in determining CWD's host range and potential public health implications. Gain valuable insights into this critical wildlife health issue that poses what some consider an existential threat to wild cervid populations.