Bleach Inactivates CWD Prions; Feasible for Decontaminating Hunting Equipment

A 5-minute soak in a 40% solution of household bleach decontaminated stainless steel wires coated with chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions, according to a new study by NIAID scientists in PLOS One. The scientists used the wires to model knives and saws that hunters and meat processors use when handling deer, elk and moose – all of which are susceptible to CWD. CWD, a brain-damaging and fatal prion disease, has never been found in people. However, other prion diseases can affect people, therefore scientists, wildlife managers and public health agencies have suggested handling wildlife tissues with caution. CWD is spreading in North America, increasing the potential for human exposure. Infectious prions are extremely difficult to inactivate, which led the scientists to seek a practical, low-cost CWD decontamination method. The scientists hope that public health and wildlife agencies will consider this study when making formal recommendations for decontamination of CWD prions.