NY/NJ: Epizootic hemorrhagic disease in deer

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.lohud.com/article/20110908/NEWS03/109080378/Virus-kills-100-deer-Clarkstown

Virus kills 100 deer in Clarkstown
12:07 AM, Sep. 8, 2011

NEW CITY ? More than 100 dead deer found in Clarkstown over the past two weeks were killed by a disease that hasn't been identified in New York since 2007, state officials said Wednesday.

The white-tail deer had been infected with epizootic hemorrhagic disease ? a viral disease transmitted by small insects called midges.

The virus does not spread to humans and people who come into contact with either an infected deer or an infected midge, also called no-see-ums or punkies, can not get the illness.

"There is no danger to people," said Lori Severino, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Household animals like dogs and cats are not susceptible , she said.

Still, the agency cautions people, especially hunters, not to handle infected deer or eat their meat...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: NY/NJ: Epizootic hemorrhagic disease in deer

Source: http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/...ase-affects-deer-population-in-Morris-County-

Midge bites killing deer in Morris County
10:25 PM, Sep. 7, 2011

A disease that last month killed deer in Somerset, Hunterdon and Mercer counties has hit deer in southern Morris County.

?The phone?s been ringing off the hook,? said Bill Stansley, a research scientist for the state Division of Fish and Wildlife. ?Calls have been picking up from police in your area (Morris County) and from so many other callers lately. Hillsborough has been busy calling for weeks.?

Deer recently found ailing and dead in Madison, Florham Park, Chatham, Harding, Long Hill and East Hanover are suspected of having been stricken by epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), which is caused by bites from the culicoides variipennis midge.

Fish & Wildlife?s Deer Project leader Carole Stanko said Tuesday there had been many ?presumptive reports? of EHD in Morris County. A preliminary lab report confirmed EHD in deer from the Hopewell area, where an estimated 50 to 100 died last month, after dead deer were also found in the Hillsborough, Princeton, East Amwell and Montgomery townships...