Experts want to study how chronic wasting disease flows in state's waterways

While COVID-19 is the infectious disease everyone’s rightfully discussing now, Minnesota’s deer population has been dealing with another epidemic for a few years: chronic wasting disease.

The disease is spread by misfolded and nearly indestructible prions, a type of proteins that frequently cause fatal and transmissible neurodegenerative diseases. While it’s known they’re spread by feces, urine and decomposition of dead deer and other cervids (such as moose, elk and caribou), officials at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine want to figure out the role of state waterways in its spread.

That’s where HF3591 comes in.

Sponsored by Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL-Roseville), it would appropriate $2.7 million from the Clean Water Fund to a University of Minnesota study on water’s role in transporting chronic wasting disease prions.

On Wednesday, the bill was heard by the House Legacy Finance Division, which oversees appropriations from the fund. As amended, it was laid over for possible omnibus bill inclusion. There is no Senate companion.

Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn

In addition to identifying how chronic wasting disease can be spread by water, the study would engage in modeling and forecasting and develop remediation strategies. In the original bill, the appropriation was to be available until June 2022, but the amendment would extend the conclusion of the study until 2025.

It’s known that chronic wasting disease can remain infectious in soil for years, and is transported by water runoff from disease-positive areas. Plants can also uptake the prions and deposit them in their leaves.

But, as far as how it can be transmitted by water: “Zero data exists on the hydrology of CWD in Minnesota,” said Peter Larsen, who is leading the formation of the Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach, which would oversee the project.

Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) asked if the disease is a danger to humans.

“The current body of evidence suggests that the risk to humans of CWD is exceptionally low,” said Davis Seelig, a University of Minnesota professor of veterinary clinical sciences, who is on the research team. “That said, so much of the current scientific body of evidence is based upon a relatively small number of studies.”

Rep. Josh Heintzeman (R-Nisswa) suggested that, rather than tap the Clean Water Fund, “The mission statement of the [Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources] was written for something like this.”

Becker-Finn replied that the study leaders would welcome that funding option, as well.