What disease is killing the deer in New Jersey?
In September, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that epizootic hemorrhaging disease, generally referred to as EHD, was killing deer in the state. Unlike the mysterious bird disease, EHD is a well-known problem that has affected white-tailed deer in years past.
What causes bluetongue in deer?
Bluetongue disease is a noncontagious, insect-borne, viral disease of ruminants, mainly sheep and less frequently cattle, yaks, goats, buffalo, deer, dromedaries, and antelope. It is caused by Bluetongue virus (BTV). The virus is transmitted by the midges Culicoides imicola, Culicoides variipennis, and other culicoids.
Can you eat a deer with bluetongue disease?
A: There are no known health risks of eating meat from a deer infected with EHD, although hunters should avoid harvesting deer that appear sick or unhealthy.
Can deer recover from EHD?
Deer herds recover from EHD’s sudden strikes, but CWD is slow and takes years to erode a herd’s ability to sustain hunter harvest without declining. Let’s take a deeper look at the differences between these two diseases.
Are EHD and bluetongue the same?
Both viruses are related and have very similar symptoms but are different in that white-tailed deer get EHD, while Bluetongue is a well-known disease of domestic sheep, cattle, and goats, in addition to affecting deer. EHD/Bluetongue are completely separate diseases from Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
How do you treat bluetongue?
There is no specific treatment for animals with bluetongue apart from rest, provision of soft food, and good husbandry. Complicating and secondary infections should be treated appropriately during the recovery period.
How is Bluetongue transmitted?
Bluetongue (BT) is a non-contagious, viral disease affecting domestic and wild ruminants (primarily sheep and including cattle, goats, buffalo, antelope, deer, elk and camels) that is transmitted by insects, particularly biting midges of the Culicoides species.
Can deer recover from Bluetongue?
Deer with chronic EHD often become lame due to these hoof problems. Although they are ill for several weeks, they can eventually recover. Deer with the peracute form of the disease may go into shock 8–36 hours after the onset of symptoms, and are found lying dead.
Is EHD the same as bluetongue?