Environment DEC
From the December 2007 issue
DEC Confirms More Cases of Deer Disease EHD in NY
Recent tests for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in several additional Albany County, Rensselaer County and Niagara County deer have come back positive, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced recently. The disease was first detected in New York State in October 2007. EHD does not present a threat to human health.
Public Helps Find Additional Cases
Recent snow and cold weather should slow the spread of the disease
Following the first New York detection in Voorheesville, Albany County, DEC asked those who may be outdoors to report any deer that are found sick, dying or dead, resulting in additional deer mortality reports from Selkirk in Albany County, Castleton in Rensselaer County, and Youngstown in Niagara County. DEC recently confirmed EHD as the cause of death.
EHD is predominantly a disease affecting deer and is transmitted by biting flies called midges. It mainly affects deer in late summer and fall, but the disease subsides when frost and colder temperatures occur and the flies die. Recent frosts throughout New York are anticipated to reduce the likelihood of a large-scale outbreak this year, but DEC will continue to monitor the deer herd.
Common in the South
EHD is common in many southeastern states and has been reported throughout the mid-Atlantic this summer. In states where the disease has been detected, it has not had a significant negative impact on long-term health of the deer herd, infecting only localized pockets of animals within a geographic area. Several symptoms indicate EHD, all of which are not necessarily present in an infected deer, including: swollen head, neck, tongue or eyelids; erosion of the dental pad or ulcers on the tongue; hemorrhaging of the heart, lungs, rumen and intestines; peeling of hooves, and high fever, leading infected deer to sometimes be found near water sources.
DEC continues to request the assistance of hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts in providing information about any sick, dying or dead animals encountered in the field. Sick or dead deer should be promptly reported to the nearest DEC regional wildlife office. See EHD in New York State for more information.
Precautions for Hunters
Hunters are reminded that they should always take simple precautions to protect themselves from exposure to disease. Hunters that harvest a deer found to be diseased may be issued a replacement tag by DEC. To minimize the risk of transmission of any infectious diseases when handling or processing deer, the following precautions are recommended:
- Do not handle or eat any deer that appear sick, act strangely, or are found dead, and contact DEC immediately.
- Wear rubber gloves when field dressing game.
- Wash instruments and any parts of the body exposed to animal tissues, blood, urine, etc. thoroughly with soap and water.
- Have your game processed promptly.
- Request that animals are processed individually, without mixing or coming into contact with meat from other animals.
- Consumption of organ meat (including brain, spinal cord, and other nervous tissue, spleen, pancreas, eyes, tonsils and lymph nodes) may pose a greater risk of infection with a number of diseases. Hunters should have deer boned out and have as much fat, connective tissue and lymph nodes removed as possible.
- In general, people should not consume an animal known or suspected to be ill.
