WASHINGTON D.C. — The United States Geological Survey unveiled science strategies to help fight against Chronic Wasting Disease through research over the next five years. The 100 percent, always fatal infectious prion disease in deer is already present in several parts of Mississippi. 

To date, 336 positives have been detected across 16 counties. Benton and Marshall Counties in north Mississippi lead the state in positives detected as CWD prevalence is high there. CWD is present in nearby Claiborne and Warren Counties so hunters should be aware of the disease and help surveillance efforts by submitting samples. 

USGS states it is the lead federal science agency for research and surveillance of diseases in free ranging wildlife. Scientists on the U.S. Geological Survey Chronic Wasting Disease and Cervid Health Science Team helped write this report. 

According to the report published Wednesday, USGS has five scientific goals in regards to Chronic Wasting Disease. The goals are to improve methods for detecting CWD, examine the mechanisms of CWD transmission and spread, include human dimensions and socio-economic effects of CWD in scientific studies, develop tools and scientific methods to facilitate decision making and assess the potential effects of disease and other stressors on ecosystems and in ecology. 

Detecting and understanding CWD

USGS states they are already actively investigating new CWD detection methods to improve the “efficiency and effectiveness,” of  detecting CWD infection. According to the report, the USGS will advance diagnostic applications to improve detection of CWD and transfer these tools to stakeholders such as the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. 

The agency is using its abilities in wildlife health, population dynamics and ecology to study how CWD is spreading further. According to the report, the USGS will work to enhance their understanding of CWD ecology in hosts, evaluate dynamics of CWD within and between host populations and evaluate the dynamic of CWD prions in the environment. The agency will also assess the associated risk of indirect transmission with prions in the environment. 

As previously reported by The Daily Leader, CWD prions persist in the environment. 

Addressing human connection

Mississippi has a tremendous deer population numbering close to 1.6 million deer. Deer are a valuable resource for food and also make an impact on Mississippi’s economy. 

USGS will look into the connection between CWD and the communities who depend on a healthy deer herd. According to the report, USGS states agencies need to learn how behaviors, land use and values of the communities affect CWD spread. 

Mississippi State University is already researching the role feeders play in CWD transmission. The Daily Leader previously reported MSU research found there is 1 feeder for every 13 deer in Mississippi. Feeders help CWD spread by congregating deer in an unnatural close proximity and allows for raccoons to carry CWD prions to other locations.

The human side of the research would look at regional effects of CWD on communities. USGS reports it aims to assess relationships between CWD and “societal, economic, and cultural values of local communities, States, and Tribal Nations.”

USGS will identify the effects of CWD on subsistence hunting and food security. The agency will furthermore “describe and incorporate societal, economic, and cultural information into decision support and policy analyses.”

USGS reports it will also develop tools and scientific methods to inform decision making. 

A long-lasting impact

According to the report, the USGS aims to look into how CWD will interact with ecology and ecosystems. The disease could have a long lasting impact and be influenced by different stressors. 

USGS states they will aim to assess interactions between CWD and other stressors in deer herds, the effects of CWD on ecosystem and wildlife health and the long term effects of CWD on societal, economic and cultural aspects of life.