MI: EHD Killing More Deer

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.wlns.com/story/19183242/v...n-mid-michigan


Viral Disease Killing More Deer in Mid-Michigan
Posted: Aug 02, 2012 5:57 PM EDT

It's a disease known as EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic) and we first told you about it earlier this week. The DNR said it killed off a dozen deer in Ionia and Branch counties. It comes from a midge, a type of gnat. The hot weather we've seen lately, seems to have brought them out early. But from those dozen we first told you about, the numbers have more than quadrupled and the count could become much higher...

[Shiloh]

Re: EHD Killing More Deer in Mid-Michigan

Source: http://argus-press.com/news/state_ne...cc8b26e92.html

Viral disease kills hundreds of deer in 8 counties
Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2012 4:40 pm
Associated Press

Hundreds of deer in eight Michigan counties have died from a viral disease that is on the rise nationwide because of hot, dry weather, state officials said Thursday.

Deer infected with epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, have been found in Barry, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton and Montcalm counties, the state Department of Natural Resources said. Experts previously confirmed the illness had killed deer in Ionia and Branch counties...

[Shiloh]

Re: EHD Killing More Deer in Mid-Michigan

Source: http://cedarspringspost.com/2012/08/...igan-counties/

EHD confirmed in 15 Michigan counties
Posted on 23 August 2012.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health had recently confirmed that the deaths of deer in Ionia and Branch counties is due to epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). Last week, they also confirmed EHD in six additional counties, and as of August 21, deer in 15 counties had been affected. The largest outbreak occurred in Ionia County, with 867 confirmed cases as Tuesday, August 21. The Total number affected is 1,251.

Officials said there has been a nationwide increase of EHD outbreaks due to the extended hot and dry conditions...

[Shiloh]

Re: EHD Killing More Deer in Michigan

Source: http://www.thetimesherald.com/viewar...deer-statewide

Viral disease has killed 1,700 deer statewide
2:21 PM, Aug 30, 2012 |

Written by
Associated Press

LANSING ? State wildlife officials say more than 1,700 white-tailed deer have been killed this summer by a disease affecting several counties in the southern half of Michigan?s Lower Peninsula...

[Giuseppe]

Re: EHD Killing More Deer in Michigan

[Source: Michigan Department of Health, full page: (LINK). Edited.]

MDARD Warns of EHD in Domestic Deer Facilities

Owners should check health of cervids daily

August 30, 2012


CONTACT: MDARD: Bridget Patrick (517) 241-2669 or patrickb@michigan.gov / MSU: Courtney Chapin (517) 432-5832 or chapinco@dcpah.msu.edu



LANSING - Officials with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and Michigan State University's (MSU) Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (DCPAH) today confirmed Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) at two Privately Owned Cervid (POC) facilities in Barry and Ionia Counties. EHD is not transmissible to humans, but is an acute, infectious, and fatal disease caused by biting midges which primarily impacts cervids.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and MSU's DCPAH recently confirmed affected wild White-tailed deer in 17 counties:

• Allegan,
• Barry,
• Berrien,
• Branch,
• Calhoun,
• Cass,
• Clinton,
• Eaton,
• Gratiot,
• Ionia,
• Jackson,
• Kent,
• Montcalm,
• Muskegon,
• Ottawa,
• Shiawassee, and
• St. Joseph.

Additionally, there is a nationwide increase of EHD outbreaks due to the extended hot and dry conditions.

"This is not a coincidence," said State Veterinarian Dr. Steven L. Halstead. "Owners of cervid facilities should make themselves aware of EHD cases occurring in wild White-tailed deer in Michigan and other states and take measures to manage biting insects around these valuable animals."

EHD is contracted most often by wild White-tailed deer, but was reported in domesticated deer in 2006. EHD is transmitted via blood feeding midges. The disease cannot be transmitted from one animal to another by direct contact. EHD typically is detected in wild White-tailed deer in late summer and early fall. Large die-offs of up to 100 animals have been reported, often near water because EHD causes high fever and dehydration.

Deer infected with the virus are often sluggish, confused, lame, and unresponsive to humans. As the disease progresses, the deer may have discharge from the nose and mouth along with sores in the mouth and a swollen tongue. Hemorrhages are commonly present throughout the internal organs and stomach area and blood is found in the body cavities.

Some animals may die suddenly without displaying any clinical signs. Animals that do die from disease or injury in a POC facility must be submitted for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing as required by the state of Michigan's mandatory CWD surveillance plan.

Owners of POC facilities who find sick or dead animals should submit them for postmortem examination (necropsy) at DCPAH. Veterinarians can submit lung, kidney, and spleen and liver tissues for PCR testing. For further instructions, please call DCPAH at (517) 353-1683.

Visit the following link for DNR's weekly updates on EHD: http://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,4579,7-186--283966--,00.html


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[Shiloh]

Re: EHD Killing More Deer in Michigan

Source: http://www.michiganradio.org/post/mi...dly-deer-virus

Michigan wildlife officials hope to hear from hunters about the spread of a deadly deer virus
By Steve Carmody

Thousands of deer have died in Michigan due to a virus in the last few months.

State wildlife officials hope to hear from deer hunters this week as they try to track the disease.

This past weekend, thousands of Michigan deer hunters took to the woods...

[Giuseppe]

Re: EHD Killing More Deer in Michigan

[Source: Michigan Department of Health, full page: (LINK). Edited.]

DNR announces EHD now found in 24 counties


Contact: Brent Rudolph, 517-641-4903; Tom Cooley, 517-336-5030; or Ed Golder, 517-335-3014 / Agency: Natural Resources / Sept. 24, 2012



The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health announced that epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) has been confirmed in 24 Michigan counties. For a list of all 24 counties, visit www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases and click on EHD, which is located in the center of the page under Spotlight.

The disease is caused by a virus that is transmitted by a type of biting fly. A constant characteristic of EHD is its sudden onset. Deer can suffer extensive internal bleeding, lose their appetite and fear of humans, grow progressively weaker, salivate excessively and finally become unconscious. Due to a high fever, infected deer often are found sick or dead along or in bodies of water.

At present, just over 4,200 dead deer have been reported in 24 counties. The DNR expects more dead deer to be found as farmers harvest their crops and hunters take to the field.
"Since July, the DNR, in cooperation with many, helpful volunteers, has been monitoring the EHD outbreak," said Brent Rudolph, DNR deer and elk program leader. "This is a horrible disease for hunters, DNR personnel and other wildlife enthusiasts to see affecting deer."

Rudolph explained that the first, hard frost should kill the flies.

These insects have thrived this year due to the dry, hot summer. This year has seen a number of major outbreaks across the country, and EHD has been documented in all neighboring states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

The DNR has received numerous calls from hunters who have asked if deer seasons will be closed this year. They will not be closed; the deer seasons will go as planned this year.

Other callers have voiced concern with harvesting an EHD-infected deer. They have asked if deer infected with EHD are safe to eat. EHD does not affect humans, so edibility of the venison is not affected by this disease. There is no evidence that humans can contract the EHD virus either from the midge or from handling and eating venison.

Hunters in affected townships should anticipate seeing fewer deer this year. However, because EHD die-offs are localized, hunters in adjoining townships may not notice any differences.

States that have had similar pronounced outbreaks in the past have consistently seen deer numbers in such localized areas rebound within a few years.

"We will continue to monitor this unfortunate situation," said Russ Mason, DNR Wildlife Division chief. "I understand how important the deer resource is to people. EHD is affecting me and my family as well because we are deer hunters. When we consider regulations for next year, there is no doubt that we will be factoring in the impact of this disease along with other influences on the deer population. Most likely, there will be changes to our management of deer in southern Michigan."

The DNR encourages hunters to stay aware of confirmed outbreak areas and adjust, if appropriate, their hunt and harvest plans.

Anyone discovering concentrations of dead deer or those seeking more information can contact their local wildlife biologist at the nearest DNR office. Office locations can be found at www.michigan.gov/wildlife under Wildlife Offices.

Because dead deer do not harbor EHD and cannot infect other deer, it's fine to leave carcasses where they are found. It's also fine to bury dead deer at a sufficient depth so that no parts are showing above ground. Finally, carcasses will be accepted at landfills that accept household solid waste.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations.


For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

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[Shiloh]

Re: MI: EHD Killing More Deer

Source: http://www.therepublic.com/view/stor...--Deer-Disease


Officials: Insect-spread viral disease EHD kills more than 10,400 deer in 29 Michigan counties

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
October 23, 2012 - 6:03 am EDT

LANSING, Mich. ? Officials say an insect-spread deer disease has been found in at least 29 Michigan counties and is to blame for the deaths of more than 10,400 deer in the state.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced new figures Monday on the illness...