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Virus killing hundreds of Southwest Pennsylvania deer with internal bleeding

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Tribune-Review
A lone whitetail deer blends into the woods along a road in Northmoreland Park in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County.

Hundreds of dead white-tailed deer in the region may have been killed by a disease that causes internal bleeding and is likely responsible for thousands more deaths in other states.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is monitoring reports of epizootic hemorrhaging disease , or EHD, in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and northern Washington counties, said Samara Trusso, southwestern regional biologist and wildlife management supervisor.

A group of dead deer possibly felled by EHD were found in Westmoreland County near its border with Allegheny. They were too decomposed to test for confirmation, Trusso said.

“There's been nothing tested or that met the requirements for testing in Westmoreland County,” Trusso said. “There was one report of a few found in a creek bed, but we couldn't make a determination because they were too far gone.”

EHD is spread through the bites of midges from a group called culicoides, which are usually limited to southern states but can be blown northward by wind currents to breed here. They breed in mud, so dry weather tends to increase their prevalence and the prevalence of infections as thirsty deer are drawn to dwindling water supplies. There is no evidence it affects humans.

Within days, deer infected with EHD develop sores in their mouths and tongues, severe internal bleeding, lethargy and fever, Trusso said. It kills most deer within seven to 10 days, though a few may survive and recover with an improved immunity. The midges carrying the disease will mostly die off in the first hard frost of the season, allowing the deer population to start recovering.

“It happens in Pennsylvania generally on a five-year cycle,” Trusso said. “The most significant outbreak both locally and nationwide was in 2007, when there was a severe drought that created a perfect storm for the disease.”

Trusso said it can be hard to say exactly how many deer have died of EHD since many dead animals that people find have decomposed to a point that it's hard to tell the cause of death, and there aren't enough Game Commission staff to visit and confirm every potential case. She tentatively estimated up to 1,000 deaths may be attributable to the disease locally.

Though it may seem like there has been a sudden increase in Pennsylvania EHD cases, other states report even worse. Eight counties in West Virginia have reported cases of EHD, while 72 counties in Kentucky have reported nearly 3,000 cases. Trusso said the last outbreak in the cycle, in 2012, appears to have had a larger effect in Western Pennsylvania than the current one. That's because this year has not been as dry.

Hunters should look out for deer that are acting abnormally or appear to have internal bleeding or secondary diseases when killed and field-dressed. Deer infected with EHD are safe to eat since the disease is not infectious to humans, said Dr. Justin Brown, wildlife veterinarian with the Game Commission. However, deer that survive the initial infection and live well into hunting season may be malnourished and more vulnerable to secondary infections that could affect people.

Infected deer tend to die in or near water, possibly because they are seeking to cool their fever or slake their dehydration.

Trusso said the Game Commission is interested in any new cases in areas beyond where EHD has already been found.

Matthew Santoni is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6660, msantoni@tribweb.com or via Twitter @msantoni.