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Hemorrhagic disease suspected in deer
Louisville Courier Journal
9/25/03
Wildlife biologists think that a flurry of recent deer deaths in 14 Kentucky counties is the result of epizoopic hemorrhagic disease.
EHD is caused by a virus spread by biting gnats, or midges, and occurs in Kentucky about every two years, according to Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources biologist Danny Watson. It is commonly found in deer throughout the Southeast.
Watson said officials have not been able to confirm that the deer are dying from EHD because reported carcasses are more than 24 hours old, by which time the virus has died. However, several of the dead animals suffered from mucus in their lungs, hearts and other organs, and most were found near water — all signs of hemorrhagic disease.
"We have enough evidence to strongly suspect EHD," Watson said.
The worst outbreak has been in Breathitt County, where more than 58 deer have been reported dead. Deaths also have been reported in Adair, Boyle, Casey, Cumberland, Fleming, Green, Hardin, Henderson, Larue, Marion, Rowan, Taylor and Woodford counties.
The disease can kill fairly quickly, but deer also can suffer for weeks or even months. It's not always fatal.
Signs of the disease depend on the strength of the virus. Symptoms include fever, labored breathing and swelling of the head, neck, tongue and eyelids.
The disease also infects cattle and sheep, but it isn't transmitted from animal to animal and doesn't affect humans.
When first infected, a deer might show no outward signs of the disease. Watson advises hunters who take a whitetail and then discover a tumor or abscess under the skin or in the body cavity not to use that part of the meat.
Louisville Courier Journal
9/25/03
Wildlife biologists think that a flurry of recent deer deaths in 14 Kentucky counties is the result of epizoopic hemorrhagic disease.
EHD is caused by a virus spread by biting gnats, or midges, and occurs in Kentucky about every two years, according to Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources biologist Danny Watson. It is commonly found in deer throughout the Southeast.
Watson said officials have not been able to confirm that the deer are dying from EHD because reported carcasses are more than 24 hours old, by which time the virus has died. However, several of the dead animals suffered from mucus in their lungs, hearts and other organs, and most were found near water — all signs of hemorrhagic disease.
"We have enough evidence to strongly suspect EHD," Watson said.
The worst outbreak has been in Breathitt County, where more than 58 deer have been reported dead. Deaths also have been reported in Adair, Boyle, Casey, Cumberland, Fleming, Green, Hardin, Henderson, Larue, Marion, Rowan, Taylor and Woodford counties.
The disease can kill fairly quickly, but deer also can suffer for weeks or even months. It's not always fatal.
Signs of the disease depend on the strength of the virus. Symptoms include fever, labored breathing and swelling of the head, neck, tongue and eyelids.
The disease also infects cattle and sheep, but it isn't transmitted from animal to animal and doesn't affect humans.
When first infected, a deer might show no outward signs of the disease. Watson advises hunters who take a whitetail and then discover a tumor or abscess under the skin or in the body cavity not to use that part of the meat.
