GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has launched a field study to test the effectiveness of a bovine tuberculosis vaccine in wild deer.

Michigan State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are partnering with the DNR on the project. The goal is to prevent the spread of the virus, which threatens both wildlife and livestock and can even infect humans.

The zoonotic disease is spread primarily through respiratory secretions, typically nose-to-nose contact or shared feed or water.

The DNR says state agencies have been working to eradicate bTB for 30 years and have made significant progress.

“While the level of disease in wild deer is low, it has remained steady for over a decade, prompting the need for new tools,” the agency said in a statement. “A unified and sustained approach to protecting human, wildlife and livestock health is critical to further progress toward bTB eradication.”

Bovine tuberculosis is somewhat common in certain areas of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, specifically Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle Counties. However, it is rare in other areas.

A 4-year-old doe harvested in Benzie County tested positive for bovine TB in February.

Most deer infected with bTB won’t show symptoms for a long time, which is why the DNR recommends having all harvested deer tested. Infection usually starts in the lymph nodes, and it can take years before lesions become noticeable in the lungs.

“That’s why submitted heads for bTB testing is so important. Wildlife Health staff can safely look at lymph nodes, where the disease is most likely to show up first,” DNR Wildlife Health Section Supervisor Mitch Marcus said in a statement.

The DNR recommends that hunters do not eat animals infected with bTB and that hunters wear rubber gloves when field-dressing or processing a deer. Any hunter who believes they may have come into contact with an infected deer is encouraged to reach out to their personal physician.