4
$\begingroup$

Wendigo fever is a Prion (credit goes to SE is too politically correct for the idea) which is spread by the consumption of tainted meat. the main problem I have is to my knowledge Prions are solely spread though the consumption of tainted brain matter and as long as no one eats the brain the diseases should eventually die out so what I want to know is how do I stop that from happening?

NOTE: magic does not exist in my story

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
4
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ To make it clear, you are asking how to manage a prionic disease without curing it? $\endgroup$
    – Alexander
    Feb 21, 2020 at 23:23
  • $\begingroup$ @Alexander i'm asking how to make sure it doesn't go extinct $\endgroup$
    – icewar1908
    Feb 21, 2020 at 23:25
  • $\begingroup$ What methods of preserving are applicable? Is having a folk tradition of eating brain acceptable? $\endgroup$
    – Alexander
    Feb 21, 2020 at 23:28
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Infectious prions don't only spread by infected brain matter. Scrapie and mad cow disease despite affecting the brain can be transmitted by infected body fluids or flesh in general. That greatly increases means of spread. $\endgroup$
    – user2352714
    Feb 22, 2020 at 1:07

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
3
$\begingroup$

Prions Can Be Spread In Multiple Ways

Fatal Familial Insomnia is a prion disease that is being spread genetically through a few families. It is completely fatal and resists all treatments.

Chronic Wasting Disease is a prion that has decimated populations of Cervids (deer family) across North America and Europe. It is spread through the exchange of body fluids.

It’s easy to justify the Wendigo Prion as being spread through saliva (bites) or through genetics when it is latent (a generational curse).

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ +1 purely for the latent curse. $\endgroup$
    – Joe Bloggs
    Feb 22, 2020 at 8:15
  • $\begingroup$ could it be both? $\endgroup$
    – icewar1908
    Feb 22, 2020 at 12:42
  • $\begingroup$ @icewar1908 Potentially $\endgroup$
    – user71781
    Feb 22, 2020 at 19:42
4
$\begingroup$

Prions were found in sheep muscle too. Lower concentration that in the brain, won't affect humans (as yet). Not much handwaving required to push it into higher concentrations and able to cross the species barrier.

Study suggest prion diseases can be transmitted by blood transfusion too

Ah, btw, scrapie can be transmitted by milk.
Also interesting in this FA: "The misfolded prions ... commonly accumulate in lymphoid tissues before invading the central nervous system"... so you can even imagine prey-populations evolving towards accumulating prions without getting them into their brain and developing the disease (sort of an asymptomatic carrier, Typhoid Mary but with prions).

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Or, Wendigo Wendy, as the case may be. $\endgroup$
    – EDL
    Feb 22, 2020 at 16:28

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .