The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Second Case Of Cwd Found In Oneida County Ny Deer

**JohnKSa** · April 4, 2005, 10:39 PM

This is apparently a prion disease like BSE (Mad Cow Disease.)

Historically, these kinds of diseases don't jump species boundaries easily, but they clearly CAN. Also, the "incubation period" (Yes, I know that's not really an accurate term) of these diseases in humans is very long--perhaps more than a decade.

IMO, the fact that there is currently no evidence of danger to humans is absolutely no guarantee that there is no danger to humans. It could very well be that there are already people "infected" who have simply not begun to show symptoms. It also means that just because a deer isn't showing symptoms is no guarantee that it's not "infected."

April 4, 2005, 10:39 PM	#4
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,988	This is apparently a prion disease like BSE (Mad Cow Disease.) Historically, these kinds of diseases don't jump species boundaries easily, but they clearly CAN. Also, the "incubation period" (Yes, I know that's not really an accurate term) of these diseases in humans is very long--perhaps more than a decade. IMO, the fact that there is currently no evidence of danger to humans is absolutely no guarantee that there is no danger to humans. It could very well be that there are already people "infected" who have simply not begun to show symptoms. It also means that just because a deer isn't showing symptoms is no guarantee that it's not "infected." Last edited by JohnKSa; April 6, 2005 at 08:37 PM.