State wildlife officials taking precautions now that ‘zombie deer disease’ has been found in GA

Wildlife officials are warning the first case of “zombie deer disease” has shown up in Georgia.

Its actual name is Chronic Wasting Disease. The fatal disease can spread quickly in deer populations.

“We would like to contain the spread, it’s very difficult,” said Charlie Killmaster, a deer biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

This week, a deer from Lanier County, near Valdosta tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

The disease attacks the animal’s nervous system, also causing dramatic weight loss, poor body control and tremors.

“It’s a slowly growing fatal disease for deer. And once it gets established in the deer population, it’s almost impossible to get rid of,” Killmaster said.

For years, Georgia’s DNR has tested 1,000 to 1,500 deer for infection to try to manage the spread of the CWD.

CWD is a challenge because it can spread even after an infected animal has died.

“The main way we can contain the spread is by not allowing people to move deer from one area to another, in a vehicle or transporting potentially infected carcasses and putting them into new areas where deer could potentially access them.”

While the zombie-like disease is known to jump species, there’s no evidence of human infection, like Mad Cow Disease

“Since 1967, when we discovered the disease, not a single human being has been infected by consuming venison that has ever been documented,” Killmaster said.

The CDC said people should not consume the meat of an infected deer.

The DNR said it will provide information on how hunters can get deer tested for CWD.