Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, or EHD, Detected in Pennsylvania Deer

According to Dr. Walter Cottrell of the Pennsylvania Game commission, EHD (Epizootic hemorrhagic disease) has been detected in a male deer belonging to Conemaugh Township, Indiana County. It has also been detected in Allegheny; Beaver; Cambria; Fayette; Greene; Lawrence; Washington, Westmoreland and Franklin County. Wildlife Conservation Officers, Land Managers and other staff are on the lookout for more cases of EHD.

The public has been urged to report any dead or sick deer that they find to their regional offices. The contact information is available on page 3 of the 2007-08 edition of Pennsylvania Digest of hunting and trapping regulations or on www.pgc.state.pa.us

The outbreak of EHD this year has been greater than the first outbreak in 2002, when 70% of the deer in Greene and Washington Counties were dead. Deer also died in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. In 1996, EHD caused 25 deer to die.

A common but sporadic disease found in white-tailed deer in the US, this disease spreads through the bites of 'biting midges'. Though the animal dies in 5-10 days, this disease cannot spread through contact. EHD though not a threat to humans, EHD infected deer should not be consumed. The disease has been detected in August before the first frost.

The temperature in most parts of the state including the south-west is between the 20s and 30s and there are also indications of snow. Insects spreading the virus usually die in such low temperatures.

Tissue samples from the dead deer must be got within 24 hours to determine the cause of death. But EHD has not affected common livestock like cattle, sheep and goats. Though cases of EHD have been found in Franklin and Somerset counties, no cases of death have been reported. Other places where EHD has been cited are Alabama, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Tennessee, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.