"Zombie disease" has been detected in California's deek and elk population for the first time, according to officials.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said chronic wasting disease - also known as "zombie disease" - was discovered in two dead deer on Monday.
The deer were found in Madera and Inyo counties.
The disease, which affects the brain and causes "progressive damage," has no known treatment or vaccine, the agency said.
"Clinical signs of the disease include progressive weight loss, clumsy movements and lack of coordination, listlessness, drooling, excessive thirst or urination and behavioral changes. Once these symptoms develop, death occurs quickly," the department said.
It pointed out that the presence of the disease in two deer found in separate locations indicates that it has been present in California for a while because the incubation period can be "months to years."
There are no reports of the disease, found in 34 states across the country and five Canadian provinces, infecting humans through eating deer or elk meat.
The department is asking hunters to be on the lookout for any diseased animals.
"The public can help limit the spread of CWD by reporting any signs of illness in deer and elk populations, and hunters should strongly consider testing their harvested deer or elk," Dr. Brandon Munk, CDFW's wildlife veterinarian who oversees monitoring of the disease, said in a statement.
