National & World Ag News Headlines Deer Disease Found in Southern Indiana USAgNet - 08/28/2007 Dead deer found in 14 southern Indiana counties likely had the viral disease EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease), according to a testing center in Georgia. Counties from which the Indiana DNR received reports of diseased dead deer include Clay, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Green, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry, Pike, Scott, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Warrick and Washington. Areas in Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania have also reported EHD-infected deer this month. The disease is transmitted by biting insects called midges. EHD is not transmitted to humans and is not normally found in domestic animals, which generally contract a related disease commonly called Blue Tongue instead. EHD poses no danger to humans from handling, processing or eating the meat of an exposed animal. Hunters should take normal precautions handling all deer. As always, deer meat should be thoroughly cooked to kill any bacteria present. This disease should not be confused with the unrelated brain disease in deer, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), which has never been found in Indiana. Using samples from some of the deer that were submitted by Indiana DNR wildlife biologists, the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) in Athens, Ga., confirmed that EHD killed at least some of the deer found recently in southern Indiana. Additional samples are being analyzed at SCWDS. This is the second consecutive year in which the state has had a significant EHD outbreak. Copyright © 2010 - USAgNet.com. All Rights Reserved.