I hope this is isolated and does not spread:
Personnel from the NJ DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) are investigating a possible outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in deer in Hillsborough Township, Somerset County.
A dead deer fawn was recovered by Fish and Wildlife biologists on the morning of September 7 that did exhibit visual signs of having EHD. The pathologist from the DFW's Office of Fish and Wildlife Health and Forensics is performing the necessary laboratory tests in order to confirm the preliminary diagnosis.
EHD is a common viral disease in deer contracted from the bite of insects called biting midges. The disease causes high fever and hemorrhaging from the mouth, nose and eyes before death. Deer may go to water to cool off or drink. It is not spread from deer to deer.
Humans cannot contract EHD and although some EHD symptoms are similar to those for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) such as excessive drooling, weakness and a loss of fear of humans, there is no relationship between EHD and CWD.
The EHD outbreak should end with the onset of colder weather, which will kill the insects that spread the disease.
The Fall archery deer season in New Jersey begins in many of the agricultural and suburban areas of the state on Saturday, September 8. Hunters observing deer acting abnormally are advised to not harvest the deer, but rather report their observations to Dr. Douglas Roscoe at 908-735-6398.
For more complete information and details please visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2007/ehd.htm on the division's Web site.
It was so hot today I did not go out for the Doe opener. Heat may keep more folks aways especially in light ot this news:(
(oops! can mods move this to deer hunting? Thanks)