Hemorrhagic disease (HD) in deer has been recently confirmed through diagnostic testing in Boone, Camden, Cole, Jackson, Linn and Osage counties.
MDC has received at least 100 reports of additional suspected cases from locations throughout the state. HD is a naturally occurring virus that infects deer through the bite of a native midge fly, commonly found between July and October when midge flies are most active.
“Hemorrhagic disease has been recognized in Missouri for many decades,” according to Jasmine Batten, Wildlife Health Program supervisor. “We get reports of suspected cases every year and ask the public to report suspected cases of HD to their local MDC office or to email information to WildlifeHealth@mdc.mo.gov.”
Batten said hemorrhagic disease can have severe impacts on localized deer numbers during some years with high infection rates, but transmission of the disease ends in the fall when heavy frost kills the midge flies. Deer populations are able to recover between outbreaks.
Hemorrhagic disease can be fatal to infected deer, but some deer survive and develop immunity.
“Clinical signs of hemorrhagic disease in deer vary but may include an unwillingness to move; difficulty breathing; and swelling of the head, neck, or tongue,” Batten explained. “Hemorrhagic disease can cause a high fever, prompting infected deer to seek out water sources. Deer that are sick may appear dazed, lethargic, and nonresponsive to the approach of people. Deer that die from hemorrhagic disease usually do so in a matter of days and are often found dead in or near water with no outward signs of illness.”
She said HD is not directly contagious between infected deer, and it is not known to infect people.
Learn more about hemorrhagic disease on the MDC website.
The public is asked to report suspected cases of hemorrhagic disease to local MDC offices or email information to WildlifeHealth@mdc.mo.gov.
Batten also noted deer with chronic wasting disease (CWD) can show signs and symptoms similar to hemorrhagic disease. HD symptoms include fever, reduced activity and swollen neck, tongue and eyelids. Because sick deer are feverish, they are often found near or in water. Sick deer may appear dazed, lethargic and nonresponsive to the approach of people.
CWD symptoms include excessive salivation, drooping head/ears, tremors, emaciation and change in behavior such as lack of fear of humans and lack of coordination.
HD-infected deer typically show symptoms within days of being infected and those that die do so within weeks of being infected. It can take more than 18 months for a CWD-infected deer to show symptoms.
HD does not kill all infected deer. Deer that survive develop antibodies for future immunity, but CWD kills all infected deer.
While HD is caused by a naturally occurring virus spread by midge flies, CWD is caused by misshapen proteins called prions and is spread through body fluids.
More about CWD can be found online.
The public is also asked to report suspected cases of CWD to local MDC offices or to email information to WildlifeHealth@mdc.mo.gov.