RJ
10-23-2007, 02:26 PM
New York has another deer disease. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced confirmation of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in several deer found dead in Albany County.
DEC is requesting help from hunters and the general public. Dead or sick deer found anywhere in the state should be reported to the nearest regional DEC office as soon as possible* or to
1-800-TIPP-DEC.
New York State Conservation Council President Harold Palmer states* “I have been assured that EHD will not harm anyone that consumes venison from deer infected with EHD. The virus that causes EHD in deer is not transferable to humans”. Palmer further states that he would not eat any animal* fish or plant that does not look healthy. DEC is also recommending that hunters do not consume any deer known or suspected to be ill.
A press release from DEC is attached* announcing confirmation of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in several deer in Albany County. While EHD is new to New York* it has been around for years in other states. Following is information from the State of Washington about EHD:
FACT SHEET
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North* Olympia* WA 98501-1091
October 1999
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD)
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD)* is common to white-tailed deer* but rarely affects other species. It occurs in the driest part of the year when conditions are just right for biting gnats* the carriers of the disease.
· The disease is not contagious from one animal to another* and it is not transferable to humans. It comes from a virus carried by biting gnats that live in or near water and wet* muddy areas. It is transmitted to deer that congregate at such watering holes during warm* dry weather.
· The spread of the disease is usually cut short with colder* wetter weather that spreads deer out and away from gnat-infested areas* or the first hard frost* which will kill the disease-carrying gnats. Since the incubation period for the disease is five to 10 days* afflicted deer may be observed up to a couple of weeks after frost.
· Deer in the early stages of EHD may appear lethargic* disoriented* lame* or unresponsive to humans. As the disease progresses the deer may have bloody discharge from the nose* lesions or sores on the mouth* and swollen* blue tongues. They become emaciated because they stop eating. Sometimes they even stop drinking* although many die close to or in water.
· Other wildlife* like mule deer* elk* and bighorn sheep could be exposed to the disease but are usually not stricken like white-tailed deer. No evidence of an outbreak in these species has been found at this time nor in past outbreaks in recent years.
· Domestic livestock could also be exposed* although cattle and sheep are usually only carriers* not victims* of the "Bluetongue" virus* which is very similar to EHD.
· Since deer hunting season usually doesn't open until well after the first killing frost* deer hunters usually don't see live* infected animals. However* WDFW recommends hunters avoid shooting and consuming deer that show any EHD symptoms* even though the disease cannot be transmitted to humans.
· EHD typically strikes in late summer and early fall during an unusually warm* dry year when wildlife concentrates at whatever water is available. Major outbreaks among white-tailed deer have occurred mid-August to mid-October in 1999 in northeast Washington (Spokane* Stevens* Ferry* Okanogan counties)* 1998 in southeast Washington along the Snake River* and 1992 in northeast Washington.
* ("Epizootic" means an animal epidemic. "Hemorrhagic" means to bleed or hemorrhage.)
DEC is requesting help from hunters and the general public. Dead or sick deer found anywhere in the state should be reported to the nearest regional DEC office as soon as possible* or to
1-800-TIPP-DEC.
New York State Conservation Council President Harold Palmer states* “I have been assured that EHD will not harm anyone that consumes venison from deer infected with EHD. The virus that causes EHD in deer is not transferable to humans”. Palmer further states that he would not eat any animal* fish or plant that does not look healthy. DEC is also recommending that hunters do not consume any deer known or suspected to be ill.
A press release from DEC is attached* announcing confirmation of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in several deer in Albany County. While EHD is new to New York* it has been around for years in other states. Following is information from the State of Washington about EHD:
FACT SHEET
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North* Olympia* WA 98501-1091
October 1999
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD)
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD)* is common to white-tailed deer* but rarely affects other species. It occurs in the driest part of the year when conditions are just right for biting gnats* the carriers of the disease.
· The disease is not contagious from one animal to another* and it is not transferable to humans. It comes from a virus carried by biting gnats that live in or near water and wet* muddy areas. It is transmitted to deer that congregate at such watering holes during warm* dry weather.
· The spread of the disease is usually cut short with colder* wetter weather that spreads deer out and away from gnat-infested areas* or the first hard frost* which will kill the disease-carrying gnats. Since the incubation period for the disease is five to 10 days* afflicted deer may be observed up to a couple of weeks after frost.
· Deer in the early stages of EHD may appear lethargic* disoriented* lame* or unresponsive to humans. As the disease progresses the deer may have bloody discharge from the nose* lesions or sores on the mouth* and swollen* blue tongues. They become emaciated because they stop eating. Sometimes they even stop drinking* although many die close to or in water.
· Other wildlife* like mule deer* elk* and bighorn sheep could be exposed to the disease but are usually not stricken like white-tailed deer. No evidence of an outbreak in these species has been found at this time nor in past outbreaks in recent years.
· Domestic livestock could also be exposed* although cattle and sheep are usually only carriers* not victims* of the "Bluetongue" virus* which is very similar to EHD.
· Since deer hunting season usually doesn't open until well after the first killing frost* deer hunters usually don't see live* infected animals. However* WDFW recommends hunters avoid shooting and consuming deer that show any EHD symptoms* even though the disease cannot be transmitted to humans.
· EHD typically strikes in late summer and early fall during an unusually warm* dry year when wildlife concentrates at whatever water is available. Major outbreaks among white-tailed deer have occurred mid-August to mid-October in 1999 in northeast Washington (Spokane* Stevens* Ferry* Okanogan counties)* 1998 in southeast Washington along the Snake River* and 1992 in northeast Washington.
* ("Epizootic" means an animal epidemic. "Hemorrhagic" means to bleed or hemorrhage.)