By Scout Nelson
Governor Tim Walz approved $1.267 million in funding on January 3 to support a two-year research project aimed at studying the effects of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on Minnesota’s wildlife. The University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine will lead the initiative, addressing the increasing threats posed by HPAI to free-ranging birds, mammals, and the poultry industry. Although the virus has spread to other species, such as cows and humans, its impact on wild animals remains largely unknown.
The funding was allocated through the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), which supports urgent research on unexpected environmental issues. This investment is timely as experts prepare for a potential resurgence of HPAI this spring.
The initiative will be led by College of Veterinary Medicine professors Arno Wuenschmann and Declan Schroeder. Their goal is to create a comprehensive wildlife virus surveillance network by collaborating with wildlife experts, rehabilitation centers, zoos, and tribal biologists. This collaborative effort will help track and manage the spread of HPAI.
Key aspects of the project include:
- Training wildlife rehabilitators and biologists to collect and submit samples to the university’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
- Testing 9,000 samples from wild birds and mammals across Minnesota.
- Using a newly developed assay in the Schroeder Lab to quickly confirm the presence of live HPAI virus, with real-time reporting of results to submitters.
“The current HPAI outbreak is a ticking time bomb for animal and human health — it is two years in and the virus continues to spread in unforeseen patterns beyond birds to wild and domestic mammals, including humans.” said Wuenschmann. Understanding the virus’s impact will help experts develop better strategies for managing future outbreaks and alerting the public, agricultural sectors, and health professionals. Ultimately, the team hopes this program will serve as a vital resource for future wildlife health issues related to viral outbreaks in Minnesota.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-wikoski
Categories: Minnesota, Education