SOUTH CHARELSTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Division of Natural Resources confirmed positive case of epizootic hemorrhagic disease often called EHD in three West Virginia counties. The commonly occurring virus has been found in recent days in whitetail deer in Monongalia, Marion, and Barbour Counties.
“We get reports of outbreaks fairly often. It’s not just restricted to West Virginia. It can show up virtually anywhere in the eastern part of the U.S.” said Paul Johansen, Chief of the DNR Wildlife Resources.
The virus is spread in the late summer or early fall months by a biting midge. It can cause a high fever and other symptoms in deer. It is at times fatal, but not always and some deer can recover. The spread of the virus is over after the first heavy frost of the fall which will kill off the midge which spreads the virus.
Part of the spread, according to Johansen, can often be blamed on dry weather. Those conditions drive deer into areas of muddy and wet ground where the midge thrives and will give rise to the spread of EHD.
Although rare, it’s possible EHD can kill a large number of deer in a small area. The discovery of multiple dead deer carcasses can be disconcerting to the public, but Johansen assured it’s a common ailment and not a threat to the population of whitetails.
“While the effects of an outbreak may seem concerning, EHD is not a long-term threat to the overall health or sustainability of the deer population in West Virginia,” he explained. “Deer populations in impacted areas will rebound with next year’s fawns and migration from adjacent areas.”
Finally Johansen noted the disease should not be confused with chronic wasting disease or CWD, which is present in six counties of the eastern panhandle, and is is a long-term threat to the health of West Virginia’s deer population.