Viral deer disease confirmed in southwest Michigan

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY (WWJ) — A widespread viral disease of deer has returned to Michigan, with one case confirmed in the southwestern part of the state.

In a press release, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said it had also received reports of more than 120 probable cases of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), primarily from counties in the southwestern Lower Peninsula.

The DNR Wildlife Health Section and Michigan State University Diagnostic Laboratory recently confirmed EHD virus in a wild white-tailed deer from St. Joseph County. Several other counties are still awaiting their laboratory results.

“EHD is a viral, sometimes fatal disease” that occurs in wildlife such as white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk, according to the DNR.

“Although initial reports suggest that there may be a significant outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in portions of Michigan's deer population in 2024, this is not necessarily unusual,” Chad Stewart, deputy chief of the DNR Wildlife Division's Sustainable Populations Section, said in the news release.

According to Stewart, cases of EHD have been occurring in Michigan since 2006. The largest deer kill occurred in 2012, when an estimated 14,000 deer were lost in over 30 counties.

There is no known treatment for the disease.

It is spread by a biting fly called a mosquito. The DNR said weather conditions in Michigan in 2024 may be to blame. Previous studies show that a warm spring, a rainy July and a hot, dry August lead to muddy areas where the mosquito likes to lay its eggs and reproduce.

EHD outbreaks can manifest themselves in a variety of ways, including:

– Sick and dead deer found in or near water bodies
-Disease in deer that “occurs suddenly and severely, but can also linger in a mild stage for weeks or months”
-Deer can lose their appetite and fear of humans, become weaker, salivate “excessively” and become unconscious
-Due to high fever and dehydration, infected deer seek water to lower their body temperature and rehydrate

Although mortality rates can be high in certain areas, Chad says not all deer develop EHD and some survive the disease.

EHD cannot be transmitted from deer to deer.

“There is no evidence that humans or pets can become infected with the EHD virus,” the DNR said.

The DNR said venison is safe to eat even if it was harvested by hunters in an area affected by EHD. However, you should not eat venison from visibly sick animals. There is no evidence that humans can contract the virus from eating venison.

Deer carcasses can be disposed of through natural decomposition, which does not spread EHD or contribute to outbreaks. Carcasses should be buried deep enough so that no body parts are visible, or disposed of in landfills that accept solid waste.

The DNR expects that additional EHD cases will be confirmed in other counties in the coming weeks.

“If you suspect that a deer death was due to epizootic hemorrhagic disease, please report it to the DNR so we can track cases and better estimate the total number of affected deer in an area,” Stewart said. “Hunters' observations can be especially helpful as they get out in the field and look around this fall.”

If you see a sick or dead deer near water, you are asked to report it through the DNR's Eyes in the Field website.