• Deer herds across state are coming down with the infection.

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

As bowhunters make their way into the woods and conventional hunters gear up for the start of deer season, officials are advising sportsmen to report any sick deer.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission announced last week that some deer in the western part of the state have been diagnosed with epizootic hemorrhagic fever or its close cousin, bluetongue. Because the two diseases bear many similarities, biologists simply refer to them together as HD, or hemorrhagic disease.

The virus is spread by infected midges – the irritating “no see’ums” that plague so many warm-weather activities. Humans are not affected by the disease, and venison from infected animals is safe to eat with normal precautions.

Officials were surprised that the disease made its first appearance this year in western counties – like many insect-borne illnesses, HD is most commonly found in eastern Piedmont and coastal areas first. Outbreaks of the disease may be cyclical, according to WRC biologists. Large outbreaks were first reported in the state in 1939, as well as 1955, 1961, 1971, 1976, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2000 and 2002.

Evin Stanford, a biologist with the Wildlife Commission, said this year’s weather patterns are similar to those in other years with HD outbreaks.

The disease thrives under hot, extremely dry conditions. HD usually disappears after the first frost, Stanford said, when the disease-carrying midges are killed by the cooler weather.

Previous major outbreaks took from 10 to 25 percent of the state’s deer herds, Stanford said, but if a deer contracts the disease and survives, it is resistant for the rest of its life.

Bluetongue and EHD can affect domestic animals such as cows and goats, Stanford said. Cows and goats generally show only mild symptoms, Stanford said, but sheep can be severely affected by bluetongue.

Lesions, unusual growth of hooves and unexplained deaths are common signs of HD, Stanford said. The disease is harder to diagnose, Stanford said, because the symptoms are common for several other deer-related diseases,

People finding sick or dead deer are asked to call (919) 707-0050, or log onto www.ncwildlife.org to learn more.