Deer to Human Blood disease transfer?

[CurlyDave]

I was skinning a deer last week, when I slightly nicked a finger with the knife.

I tried to wash off as best I could, but was at a fairly primitive camp site, with no running water and a only a creek 100 feet away. I know there must have been some contact with the deer blood.

Are there any diseases I should be worried about ? Any treatments ?

Dave

P.S. The deer was a dandy, 5 points one side, 4 the other.

 

[Egon]

Congradulations on the Buck.

On the medical side it may be best to seek professional advice.

 

[MikePA]

Are there any diseases I should be worried about ? Any treatments ?

Have you tried searching the Internet? The first search I did, "deer to human", indicated hepatitis E can be transmitted by eating raw deer meet that's infected. Link

I agree with Egon, see your doctor.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Lyme disease is one I can think of.
I've knicked myself lots of times while cleaning game, deer too, and I never sought medical advice but I probably shoudl have for the chance of what could have happened.

Now that I'm married and have to think of someone else other than myself if I do it again I will schedule a doctors appointment the next day or two after doing so.

 

[gsganzer]

I usually use latex gloves when skinning. Mainly for the clean-up afterwards. I haven't heard of any great risk of disease transmission when skinning deer. Skinning wild pigs and rabbits is an entirely different matter.
Tularemia

 

[BB_TX]

Now you have started me to thinking. I hate that.
I have killed many deer in 40 years of hunting. And very few did I come away from the field dressing without a few cuts or scratches. Usually scratches from the pelvic bone after I split it to get the last of the intestine out. And my 3 hunting buddies the same over those same years.
The last few years I have used latex gloves, not because of blood contact concerns, but just to make cleanup easier.
Now, no matter how hard I try, I expect I will be wondering about your question even though I have never heard of anyone catching anything from field dressing a deer or any warnings about it.

 

[Birdhunter1]

All of us mention we've done it and this is about the way safety/accident stuff usually goes. I am a hunting guide, I know lots of hunters I've done lots of hunting. I know 1 guy who got lyme disease from field dressing a deer. He got so sick from it that he dern near died over it before they figured out what was going on with him. Since he was an auto/deisel mechanic they were thinking it may have been carbon monoxide poisoning but turns out it was lyme disease.
Like I said the 1 out of 1000 + chances.

 

[George2615]

If the creek water has moving it may be pretty clean to wash up in. If not then take a 5 gal. jug of fresh water next time your at camp. For your next trip also take along some disinfectant soap and a first aid kit (which should be in your camp anyway) If you nick you finger let it bleed or squeeze it several times to force the blood out, then wash with soap and apply neosporin or something similar then bandage. Seek medical attention at earliest chance or for any sign of infection. Lyme disease among others is always a possibility when in contact with animal blood.
In some parts of the country the deer have a disease similar to mad cow disease and any deer taken must be checked / inspected by the local DEC agent.

 

[hockeypuck]

Lymes is no fun. Been there done that. 2 months of anti biotics (doxycycline) and its wonderful side effects. Fortunately I had a doctor who knew what lymes was and could treat it properly. Alot of doctors do not want to even admit that it is a problem. But that is another story for another thread.

To get back to the question, Lymes would be a consideration. You will feel like you have the flu and your body will ache all over, the kind of muscle ache you have the day after a good work out. Head aches, night sweats, low grade fever, and an over all feeling like crap. These are the signs to look out for lymes.

Puck

 

[roxynoodle]

Some people have Lyme disease forever and are never well. I would say if you feel sick, go to the doctor immediately. If you are fine, be glad and take some first aid stuff hunting next time. There is antibiotic handwash that doesn't require water. Hope sincerely you are fine.