Chronic Wasting Disease and Human Health

There is currently no scientific evidence that Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has, or can, spread to humans either through contact with infected animals or by eating meat of infected animals.

The World Health Organization has said, as part of their recommendations regarding BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or "mad cow disease"), that:

It is advised that any tissue which may come from deer or elk with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD, a transmissible spongiform disease of North American mule deer and elk) is not used in animal or human food; however there is no evidence at this time to suggest that CWD in deer and elk can be transmitted to humans.

 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency states on its web site:

At this time there is no scientific evidence to suggest that CWD in deer and elk can be transmitted to humans. However, it is recommended that any tissue which may have come from a CWD-infected animal not be used or consumed by humans.

Public health officials advise caution and recommend that human exposure to the CWD infectious agent be avoided as they continue to evaluate any potential health risk.

Although there is no evidence to date that CWD is a health risk to humans, all precautions should be taken to safeguard human health. Hunters are encouraged not to consume meat from animals known to be infected with CWD or that have evidence of CWD.

Some hunters who have participated in the CWD surveillance program may prefer to wait for the test result before eating their venison. This decision is up to each hunter. It may take a month or more for test results to be known due to the high number of samples involved.

For more information about CWD and human health, visit the websites listed below.  Note:  the websites listed below are created by or for organizations outside of the Ontario government, and those organizations are responsible for the information contained within their respective sites. These sites might not be available in French. Any specific comments or inquiries regarding those sites should be directed to the individual organization.

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) of Deer and Elk

• U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention - Chronic Wasting Disease and Potential Transmission to Humans
• World Health Organization - Fact Sheet: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy