Viral deer disease confirmed in southwest Michigan [Video]

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY (WWJ) — A common viral deer disease has returned to Michigan— with a case confirmed in the southwestern part of the state.

In a press release, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said they have also received reports of over 120 probable cases of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), primarily from counties in the southwestern Lower Peninsula.

The DNR Wildlife Health Section and Michigan State University Diagnostic Laboratory recently confirmed the EHD virus in a free-ranging white-tailed deer from St. Joseph County. Several other counties are awaiting their lab results.

“EHD is a viral, sometimes fatal disease” found in wild animals such as the white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk; according to the DNR.

“Although early reports indicate 2024 could see a significant outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in pockets of Michigan’s deer population, this isn’t necessarily unusual,” Chad Stewart, acting supervisor of the DNR Wildlife Division’s …