Eating brain/spinal cord is not required to contract a prion disease; prions can also be spread through any biological medium where protein material is located, for instance, blood. This is the reason why those who have CJD or other TSEs in their family are unable to donate blood.
This is also how vampires became extinct.
arken@lemmy.world 4 months ago
I think the brain is only where the concentration of prions is highest and therefore the most dangerous part of an infected person to eat, but you can also get it from other body parts. But I’m no expert… haven’t eaten anyone in years actually.
DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 4 months ago
Yes, it can pass through muscle/meat. That’s what was getting people with CJD and possibly this zombie deer stuff.