Deadly Disease Downing Deer From Dyersburg To Ducktown

NASHVILLE, TN — A summer spate of deer deaths across Tennessee is related to a multi-state outbreak of a virus, wildlife officials announced.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said dead deer in about 20 counties appear to be infected with hemorrhagic disease, or HD. Outbreaks of HD, which is an umbrella term that includes epizootic hemorrhagic disease and bluetongue, occur annually, but this year's seems to be worse than most.

(For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

Infection is predominantly in East Tennessee, but more deaths are expected. For now, the outbreak is localized but is still the biggest since 2007, which involved virtually the entire state.

“So far the intensity of the outbreak seems to be localized,” said Roger Applegate, Wildlife Health Program Leader for TWRA. “We don’t anticipate this outbreak to rival that of 2007, but it is still early and we’re actively monitoring the situation.”

HD is caused by a virus that is transmitted to deer from biting midges or "no-seeums."

It is not transmitted from deer to deer by contact. The virus causes fever, respiratory distress, and swelling of the neck or tongue. Not all deer exposed to the virus will die, but those that do usually do so within five to 10 days of exposure in or near water as they seek to cool their bodies from the fever. Incidence of HD usually peaks around mid-September and is usually done by mid-October with the onset of cold weather.

HD is not to be confused with the more serious chronic wasting disease, which is similar to mad cow disease.

Image via United States Department of Agriculture