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Waukesha County cattle test positive for EHD
FOX6 News Milwaukee • • health
Key Points:
- The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture confirmed that non-lactating dairy cows in Waukesha County tested positive for epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), which has also been found in local wild and captive deer.
- EHD is a viral infection spread by biting flies, typically emerging in late summer and early fall, with cases declining after the first hard frost; cattle rarely show symptoms, unlike deer.
- When symptoms do appear in cattle, they may include lameness, fever, weight loss, excessive salivation, and sores, which can resemble Foreign Animal Diseases and require laboratory testing for accurate diagnosis.
- There is no treatment for EHD, but state officials stress that the disease poses no risk to humans through insect bites or consumption of meat and milk from infected animals.
- Herd owners are advised to consult veterinarians if symptoms appear in cattle or farm-raised deer, who can submit samples for testing to confirm EHD and rule out other diseases.
