Press Release

Hemorrhagic Disease of Deer Reported in Virginia

Richmond, VA — The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has received several reliable reports that a viral disease known as hemorrhagic disease (HD) has caused a number of deer mortalities across Virginia.

Hemorrhagic disease is a common infectious disease of white-tailed deer, and outbreaks occur annually in the Southeast and in Virginia.  HD is common east of the Blue Ridge and is relatively uncommon west of the Blue Ridge.  HD outbreaks are characterized by otherwise healthy looking deer being found deceased or close to, lying on the cool soil in a wetland or near the water during late summer and early fall.  A deceased deer floating in a pond in late summer or early fall is also a good HD suspect.  The reason they go to these areas is because they are running a very high fever during the onset of the disease.  Lying on cool and wet soil is Mother Nature’s way of treating a fever in deer.  There is no vaccine or medication to combat this viral disease.  The best predictor of HD activity is drought, but it is far from a perfect predictor. Biting flies, commonly known as biting gnats or midges, transmit this viral disease.  HD outbreaks typically continue until the first frost kills the insects that carry the disease.

The disease poses no threat to humans or domestic pets such as dogs and cats.  Hunters are not at risk from handling or eating venison from infected deer. Even so, deer that act or look obviously sick, either as a result of HD or another infectious disease, should not be consumed.

Not all deer that contract the disease will perish.  However, deer that survive the infection may develop hoof lesions/pain and are more susceptible to pneumonia.  While it is impossible to determine the number of deer affected by the current outbreaks, some decrease in deer numbers in the affected areas may be expected.

If you have observed sick or deceased deer in your area and suspect HD may be the cause, do not attempt to contact, disturb, kill, or remove the animal. Please report the approximate location of the animal to the Wildlife Helpline at (855) 571-9003 or you may call or email the local wildlife biologist.  A map of the district wildlife biologists and their contact information may be found at DMAP PDF .  If you send an email, please list the county, the community or area, and the number of deer involved (e.g., six deceased deer along the Big Otter River in the Lowry community of Bedford County).  The Department annually maintains records of HD mortality reports documenting the location and approximate number of animals involved.  Please be advised that, unless there are extenuating circumstances, the HD report will not result in an on-site visit by Department staff.

At present there is nothing that can be done to prevent or control HD. Although die-offs of deer due to HD 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.

For more information on HD go to dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/diseases/hd/.