The Missouri Department of Conservation is asking people to report hemorrhagic disease in deer this summer. The MDC is receiving reports of it in Missouri deer this summer. This is a general term for two related viruses, epizootic hemorrhagic disease and bluetongue. They are spread to deer through the bite of a native midge.
To report, contact Brandon Lyddon for Gentry and Worth Counties at (816) 294-8144. For Harrison, call Josh Roller at (816) 294-8767. For Daviess County, call Jaycob O’Hara at (660) 605-2893. The Northwest Regional Office is at (816) 271-3100. People can also report through the MDC website.
While the MDC does not anticipate a large outbreak this year, every report helps biologists monitor deer health and better understand the impacts of the disease. Outbreaks are most common between July and October and typically end after a heavy frost that kills the midges that spread it.
Symptoms include reluctance to move, difficulty breathing, swelling of the head, neck, and tongue, and appearing dazed or unresponsive. The disease can cause high fever, prompting deer to seek water. Deer that die from it are frequently found in or near water. Death can occur within days.
Hemorrhagic Disease does not spread to humans. The viruses that cause it are not zoonotic, meaning that they do not spread from animals to humans. Consuming venison from infected deer is generally considered safe; however, it is advised not to eat visibly sick animals and to use gloves when field dressing. Domestic ruminants like sheep and cattle can be affected.
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