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EHD detected in Michigan deer in 4 counties
MLive.com • • health
Key Points:
- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the state’s first 2026 cases of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in white-tailed deer, detected in Branch, Ingham, Jackson, and Lenawee counties.
- EHD is spread by infected midges (biting flies) and cannot be transmitted directly between deer or to humans, pets, or other wildlife; healthy deer from affected areas remain safe to eat.
- The disease typically emerges in late summer and early fall, with outbreaks linked to wet springs followed by hot, dry summers, and transmission ceases after the first frost kills midges.
- Symptoms in infected deer include lethargy, disorientation, lameness, bloody nasal discharge, swollen or blue-tinged tongues, and swelling around the eyes, neck, or head; residents are encouraged to report sightings via the DNR’s Eyes in the Field system.
- Changing weather patterns and a new virus strain have made EHD outbreaks more complex in Michigan, with localized severe mortality possible but no significant long-term effects on statewide deer populations.
