CDC Warns Hunters Infected Deer Can Pass Tuberculosis to Humans

With deer hunting season underway here is an important message from the Center for Disease Control and prevention that Deer infected with Tuberculosis can pass the disease to humans

This warning stems from a case of pulmonary tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium Bovis in a man, aged 77 years diagnosed in May of 2107 in Michigan.

The man had regularly hunted and field-dressed deer in the area during the past 20 years. Two earlier hunting-related human infections with M. Bovis were reported in Michigan in 2002 and 2004. In each case, the patients had signs and symptoms of active disease and required medical treatment.

The CDC advises hunters to wear protective gear when field-dressing deer as to prevent contracting tuberculosis.