Artificial feeding of deer and elk may compound the problem. According to experts and public health officials, there's no evidence that CWD can be naturally transmitted to humans, or to animals other than deer and elk. As a general precaution, however, it's a good idea for people to avoid contact with any wild animal that appears sick. According to experts, there's no evidence that CWD can be naturally transmitted to domestic livestock. Though there are similarities, there is no evidence suggesting either scrapie or BSE is caused by contact with wild deer or elk.
Veterinarians say nothing can be done to save deer and elk affected by chronic wasting disease.
However, removing affected individuals may help prevent the spread of infection within a herd. Feeding affected animals may keep them alive a little longer, but will not change the ultimate outcome. Feeding could increase the likelihood of transmitting the disease to other deer or elk. Chronic wasting disease isn't known to affect people. Scrapie, a disease related to chronic wasting disease, has existed in sheep for at least 300 years, yet there has never been a case of scrapie reported in a human being, even among people who work with sheep and the millions of people who eat lamb and mutton.