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A deadly infection which causes animals to lose coordination and become aggressive is spreading across North America, experts warn.

A 'zombie deer disease’ has affected woodland mammals in recent months after being reported in 24 US states and two Canadian provinces.

Also known as chronic wasting disease, the illness attacks brain and spinal cord tissue and eventually leads to death in deer, elk and moose, according to the Centre for Disease Control .

The disease - which has blossomed in Colorado, Montana and other Midwest states - causes infected animals to dramatically lose weight and coordination.

Scientists believe it is spread through body fluids like feces, saliva, blood or through the contamination of soil, food or water

(Image: Getty Images)

Its symptoms were spotted in wild animals 40 years ago, but has been seen in captive deer as far back as the late 1960s.

Unlike Mad Cow Disease, it does not appear humans can get the disease by eating contaminated meat and no such cases have been reported.

However, the CDC says it could pose a risk to non-human primates, like monkeys, that eat meat from CWD-infected animals.

"Since 2000, the area known to be affected by CWD in free-ranging animals has increased to at least 24 states, including states in the Midwest, Southwest, and limited areas on the East Coast," the CDC says.

"It is possible that CWD may also occur in other states without strong animal surveillance systems, but that cases haven’t been detected yet.

"Once CWD is established in an area, the risk can remain for a long time in the environment. The affected areas are likely to continue to expand.’

The organisation has also voiced concerns that the disease appears to be spreading across the continent.

(Image: Getty Images)

"In several locations where the disease is established, infection rates may exceed 10 percent (1 in 10), and localized infection rates of more than 25 percent (1 in 4) have been reported,’ the CDC report says.

"The infection rates among some captive deer can be much higher, with a rate of 79% (nearly 4 in 5) reported from at least one captive herd."