Hemorrhagic disease confirmed in Indiana deer deaths - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says several deer in the state have died from EHD, or epizootic hemorrhagic disease.

DNR deer management biologist Chad Stewart said that laboratory tests have identified the virus in samples from deer in four counties - LaGrange, Miami, Morgan and Sullivan Counties.

The State Board of Animal Health has identified EHD at captive cervid facilities in Adams, Marshall, Putnam and Vanderburgh Counties and in cattle in Ripley County.

Stewart said EHD is suspected or has been reported in over 40 Indiana counties after several citizen reports to the DNR about dead deer.

The final lab report was received this week from the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia. Other samples were tested at Purdue University.

The tests confirmed two strains of the virus - EHD V-2 and EHD V-6. the latter strain is relatively new to the state.

In addition to the counties where EHD is confirmed, Stewart said the virus is suspected in reports of dead deer in Adams, Bartholomew, Brown, Cass, Carroll, Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Dubois, Elkhart, Fayette, Franklin, Gibson, Hendricks, Henry, Jay, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Marion, Monroe, Ohio, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Porter, Posey, Putnam, Randolph, Ripley, Shelby, Spencer, Steuben, Switzerland, Tippecanoe, Union, Vermillion and Warrick counties.

EHD is a non-contagious virus that likely affects white-tailed deer every year. Severity and distribution of the disease is highly variable and unpredictable. It typically occurs during late summer and early fall. There is evidence that outbreaks may be worse during drought years.

EHD is not transmitted from deer to deer but instead by flies commonly known as biting midges. Deer infected with EHD may appear depressed or feverish. They often seek comfort in or around water. Other signs may include blue-tinted tongue or eyes, ulcers on the tongue, sloughed hooves, or an eroded dental pad.

Hemorrhagic disease is often fatal to deer, but some will survive the illness. Not every deer will contract hemorrhagic disease, which can be present or absent in any area. Death losses during an outbreak can range from negligible to greater than 50 percent. Severe outbreaks rarely occur in subsequent years due to immunity gathered from previous infections.

The onset of freezing temperatures often brings a sudden halt to EHD outbreaks.

EHD is confirmed or suspected this year in at least 10 other states: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Humans are not at risk for contracting hemorrhagic disease.