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Missourians asked to report cases of deadly deer disease caused by gnat bites
foxweather.com • • health
Key Points:
- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is seeking public help to report cases of hemorrhagic disease (HD), a deadly viral illness in deer that causes high fever and drives them to seek water.
- HD includes two viruses, epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) and bluetongue (BTV), spread by tiny gnats, with outbreaks most common from July to October and ending after frost kills the midges.
- Infected deer show clear symptoms such as reluctance to move, difficulty breathing, swelling, and unusual behavior, and often die near water within days; some may survive and develop immunity.
- There is no cure or vaccine for HD, but the disease does not pose any risk to humans and does not have long-term effects on the overall health or sustainability of Missouri’s deer population.
- MDC emphasizes that public reporting helps track the disease’s spread and impact, aiding conservation efforts to manage deer health and populations effectively.
