I don’t know if it’s viral or a germ. Viruses are hard to kill. The population density of the affected animals seems to be a factor. I know Missouri has had issues as well as other states. Fewer hunters and denser populations I believe contribute to the issues. If the equation gets screwed up nature seems to correct the problem. Hunting the populations down would seem to be more humane than letting the deer die off and rot. IMO
"...The term “prions” refers to abnormal, pathogenic agents that are transmissible and are able to induce abnormal folding of specific normal cellular proteins called prion proteins that are found most abundantly in the brain. The functions of these normal prion proteins are still not completely understood. The abnormal folding of the prion proteins leads to brain damage and the characteristic signs and symptoms of the disease. Prion diseases are usually rapidly progressive and always fatal."
It’s a prion.
“I don’t know if it’s viral or a germ. “
neither. this class of diseases is caused by a rogue protein that causes other proteins to fold improperly and thereby lose their ability to function ...