teeroy
Life Member
EHD is a virus that is spread by a biting midge; there is no deer-to-deer transmission
The midge feeds on an infected animal, the virus colonizes inside the midge; when the midge bites an uninfected deer the virus is spread
EHD is closely related to bluetongue and both produce the same symptoms in deer
The virus causes the animal to spike a high fever, cell walls break down, cell contents begin to leak (causes fluid build-up, swelling), areas of internal hemorrhaging occur
In the latter stages of the disease, the animals will be lethargic, stumbling, sometimes drooling, and unresponsive.
The cases we have been seeing in Iowa are mostly peracute and acute cases of EHD with the animals dying within 1-4 days after the fever begins
Because the disease progresses so quickly, deer dying of EHD will be in good body condition. They will often be found in or near water because the high fever and dehydration makes them seek it out
The disease poses no risk to humans
The meat is safe to eat. Although if a hunter shoots a deer in the latter stages of the disease when it is not acting normally they will be shooting an animal that has been under extreme stress for a couple of days (high fever, dehydrated, adrenalin in system, etc.) and the meat quality will likely be impacted as one would expect
Cattle are resistant to both EHD and blue tongue for the most part and mortality is fairly rare and many will not even display any symptoms if infected
Sheep are fairly resistant to EHD but bluetongue can have an impact at the herd level
Since Iowa deer are only exposed to the viruses on an infrequent basis, the resistance of our herd to the disease is low
The outbreak will end once we have a killing frost which will also kill most of the midges
Here is a link to a video of a deer dying of EHD:
http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-video-shows-deer-suffering-from-ehd-20120918,0,6044336.story
Reports have been coming in fairly steady this week but not as rapid as they were 3 weeks ago. As of this evening, 1,366 suspected Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) cases from 47 counties have been reported (1,178 reports & 44 counties on 25 September).
Please continue to submit all reports of suspect animals.
The midge feeds on an infected animal, the virus colonizes inside the midge; when the midge bites an uninfected deer the virus is spread
EHD is closely related to bluetongue and both produce the same symptoms in deer
The virus causes the animal to spike a high fever, cell walls break down, cell contents begin to leak (causes fluid build-up, swelling), areas of internal hemorrhaging occur
In the latter stages of the disease, the animals will be lethargic, stumbling, sometimes drooling, and unresponsive.
The cases we have been seeing in Iowa are mostly peracute and acute cases of EHD with the animals dying within 1-4 days after the fever begins
Because the disease progresses so quickly, deer dying of EHD will be in good body condition. They will often be found in or near water because the high fever and dehydration makes them seek it out
The disease poses no risk to humans
The meat is safe to eat. Although if a hunter shoots a deer in the latter stages of the disease when it is not acting normally they will be shooting an animal that has been under extreme stress for a couple of days (high fever, dehydrated, adrenalin in system, etc.) and the meat quality will likely be impacted as one would expect
Cattle are resistant to both EHD and blue tongue for the most part and mortality is fairly rare and many will not even display any symptoms if infected
Sheep are fairly resistant to EHD but bluetongue can have an impact at the herd level
Since Iowa deer are only exposed to the viruses on an infrequent basis, the resistance of our herd to the disease is low
The outbreak will end once we have a killing frost which will also kill most of the midges
Here is a link to a video of a deer dying of EHD:
http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-video-shows-deer-suffering-from-ehd-20120918,0,6044336.story
Reports have been coming in fairly steady this week but not as rapid as they were 3 weeks ago. As of this evening, 1,366 suspected Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) cases from 47 counties have been reported (1,178 reports & 44 counties on 25 September).
Please continue to submit all reports of suspect animals.
Suspected HD Cases
September 28, 2012
September 28, 2012
Last edited:
