Pennsylvania Game Commission Announces EHD Confirmed in Allegheny and Westmorelan...( HARRISBURG Pa. Sept. 25 -- Dr. W...),Health

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dr. Walter Cottrell, Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife veterinarian, today announced that test results of dead deer from the southwestern part of the state have confirmed that epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) has been found in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

Results released today involved an adult female deer that was found dead in Jefferson Township, Allegheny County, and an adult female deer that was found dead in St. Clair Township, Westmoreland County. Other counties in which EHD has been confirmed are Beaver, Greene and Washington counties.

As a reminder, Dr. Cottrell and other agency personnel from the Southwest Region are holding an informational meeting at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28, at the Waynesburg Fairgrounds Auction Building, Greene County, to provide the public with an update on the current outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in the southwestern part of the state.

Additionally, to provide the public with more information about EHD, the agency has posted an EHD fact sheet on its website (http://www.pgc.state.pa.us). The website also chronicles the agency's news releases issued about this outbreak since Aug. 27.

EHD is a common but sporadic disease in white-tailed deer populations of the United States, and is contracted by the bite of insects called "biting midges." In more northern states, such as Pennsylvania, EHD occurs less often and the deer are less able to mount an effective immune response. The virus usually kills the naive animal within five to 10 days. It is not spread from deer to deer by contact. While EHD is not infectious to humans, deer displaying severe symptoms of EHD are usually not suitable for consumption because of the rapid deterioration of the meat and secondary bacterial infection.

"This outbreak of EHD is more significant than the one in 2002 and has impacted more
'/>"/>