Hemorrhagic Disease

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​He​morrhagic Disease Updates in Kentucky​​

Updated: October 2, 2024​

​The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' Wildlife Health Program ​has received confirmed cases of hemorrhagic disease and is seeing an increase in suspected cases in white-tailed deer.

​​DISEASE INFORMATION​

What are the symptoms of hemorrhagic disease?

C​​linical signs vary and range from rapid death to lingering effects in some individuals. Deer infected with these viruses may be depressed, feverish, emaciated (very thin), and remain near water in late summer or early fall.

Acute form:

• Animals may appear feverish and depressed
• Pronounced swelling of head, neck, tongue, and eyelids
• Respiratory distress
• Internal hemorrhaging
• Highly virulent strains may cause death in 1-3 days
• Carcasses often recovered near water

Lingering form:

• Survivors may exhibit evidence of lesions in mouth and in stomach (rumen) lining
• Sloughing hooves (often seen in fall harvest)

Lesions

Lesions vary depending on the virulence of the disease. They include edema (swelling) of the head, neck, tongue, conjunctiva, lungs, heart, rumen, and intestines. There may be ulcers in the dental pad, tongue, palate and stomach (rumen and omasum chambers in particular). More chronically-infected deer may have growth interruptions in the hooves or sloughing of hoof walls.

How is hemorrhagic disease diagnosed?

This disease is diagnosed from a blood sample, or from a refrigerated sample of spleen, lung, or lymph node tissue.

​How many deer will be lost?

Hemorrhagic Disease occurs frequently, but its severity and distribution are highly variable. Past occurrences have ranged from a few scattered cases every year or two, to dramatic regional or statewide outbreaks every 5-10 years, as in 1997, 2002 and 2003, 2007, 2012, and 2017. Death rates are usually are well below 25% of the population, and no deer population has ever been wiped out by Hemorrhagic Disease, even back in the 1950’s when it was first described and deer numbers were much lower!

How is hemorrhagic disease treated?

There are no known treatments or controls for Hemorrhagic Disease.

How can hemorrhagic disease be prevented?

Hemorrhagic Disease is one of the most important diseases affecting white-tailed deer populations in Kentucky and throughout the Southeast. The disease affects deer throughout the Southeast and much of the rest of the country. It probably occurs at a low rate every year, but some years an outbreak may occur, resulting in a large number of deer deaths that are noticeable to the public. Outbreaks are more likely to occur in the northern and more mountainous areas of the range of the disease; however, they are still relatively uncommon.

At present there is little that can be done to prevent or control this disease. As with most diseases and parasites of white-tailed deer, impacts will be minimized in deer herds that are maintained at moderate to low densities. The best and only practical means of regulating deer populations is through recreational deer hunting, including the harvest of antlerless deer. Although die-offs of deer due to Hemorrhagic Disease often cause alarm, past experiences have shown that mortality will not decimate local deer populations and the outbreak will be curtailed by the onset of cold weather.

Does hemorrhagic disease pose a risk to people or other animals?

While elk in eastern Kentucky can contract the disease, they usually show no outward signs of illness. Hemorrhagic Disease is typically not fatal for elk.​ Additionally, while livestock may be exposed to the disease, they do not usually die from it.​

The viruses that cause hemorrhagic disease do not infect humans, and people will not contract these diseases from eating meat from infected deer. Deer with hemorrhagic disease may be more susceptible to other diseases, however, and consumption of a sick-looking animal is not advised.