A small Oregon county has been struck by one of the rarest but scariest ailments known to exist.

Once they do, however, death quickly follows.

Thankfully for humanity, prion ailments are rare (other prion-like diseases might bemore common).

Prion diseases like CJD destroy the brain from the inside out and are universally fatal.

Prion diseases like CJD destroy the brain from the inside out and are universally fatal.© Elif Bayraktar via Shutterstock

CJD can broadly happen in three different ways.

It can be passed down from mutations that make the emergence of prions inevitable.

It can be transmitted, though usually only through rare scenarios such as close contact with infected brain tissue.

Prion Proteins

Or it can simply occur sporadically for no clear reason.

What Ever Happened to Mad Cow?

Most CJD cases fall in the last bucket.

Image: Kyle Selcer

But it remains important to rule out the scarier scenario.

For now, theres no immediate signs of something more being amiss.

News from the future, delivered to your present.

Anker Desktop Charger

Two Hunters Died of Rare Prion Disease.

Predator Badlands

Jblflip6

Eufysolocam

Alicia Witt in Urban Legend

Hp14

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media during a guided tour of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts before leading a board meeting on March 17, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Metaquest3s

Anker Desktop Charger

Predator Badlands

Jblflip6

Eufysolocam

An image of a small disposable vape with a green case and mouth piece and visible oil in a clear container.

An image of a hand holding a black vape with a vibrant blue chamber where you can faintly see a laser.

Framework 13 Laptop 1 Hero

Samsung Odyssey 3d 6