Epizootic hemorrhagic disease confirmed in St. Joseph County deer

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — A case of epizootic hemorrhagic disease has been confirmed in a deer in St. Joseph County.

Chad Fedewa, a wildlife biologist and acting deer, elk, and moose management specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said the case was confirmed in late July.

"And since then, we have been getting a fair number of calls from people reporting dead deer as well," he said.

EHD is a virus transmitted through the bite of a midge fly. Fedewa said it causes high fevers and hemorrhaging of organs, leading many infected deer to bodies of water to try to cool down.

While EHD doesn't have a 100% mortality rate, Fedewa said once symptoms appear, the deer will likely be dead within days.

He said most reported possible cases have been along the St. Joseph and Cass county border, with an outbreak also reported in Indiana. Samples are expected to be taken from other deer to confirm if EHD was present.

EHD can only be transmitted through the fly bites, and is not contagious between deer or to humans or livestock.

Fedewa said there is no way to treat the virus and environmental factors such as more areas of mud to allow the flies to reproduce can impact the size of an outbreak.

If people spot a dead deer, they can report it to the DNR at www2.dnr.state.mi.us/ors/Home .

"There is no risk to humans and no risk associated with consuming venison from deer that potentially had the virus," Fedewa said.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Epizootic hemorrhagic disease confirmed in St. Joseph County deer