The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota is pioneering a multi-country project to prepare for a possible chronic wasting disease (CWD) spillover from deer or other cervids—members of the deer family—to humans or non-cervid farm animals.
The work is funded by the Minnesota Legislature, administered by the state Department of Natural Resources and led by CIDRAP and CWD Project Director Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, and co-directors Jamie Umber, DVM, MPH, and Cory Anderson, PhD, MPH.
"We have been very fortunate to have very active leadership and support in the state for CWD efforts, including the work of Representative Rick Hansen," said Osterholm. Minnesota Representative Hansen (D-South St. Paul) is a member of the CIDRAP project's wildlife health and conservation working group.
The CIDRAP CWD Team has enlisted 67 experts from seven countries to serve on five working groups. Their discussions will inform a living, ongoing response plan on topics such as risk communication, education and outreach for the Minnesota Legislature.
The groups are addressing human medicine and public health surveillance, epidemiology, lab capacity, planning, and response; cervid and production animal surveillance, lab capacity, planning, and response; prion disease diagnostics; carcass and contaminated item disposal; and wildlife health and conservation.
Hansen said that science is critical in dealing with a new and challenging disease. "I think that's where engaging scientists, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers with the CIDRAP effort is really important, because we can learn from each other," said Hansen.
He added that state, national and international cooperation is essential in tackling CWD. "I think the beauty of the CIDRAP proposal is you've got groups working on a variety of things, whether it's human health, management, research, what's happening with other species, so you've got wildlife health, public health and management," said Hansen. "We have a lot more to learn."
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Photo Credit: pexels-jim fawns
Categories: Minnesota, Livestock