Increasing numbers of sick, dying deer from hemorrhagic disease outbreaks

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – There is an increasing number of sick and dying deer around Alabama due to hemorrhagic disease outbreaks, according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The state says that while the concentrated numbers are in northern Alabama, it’s happening statewide.

“If the deer has hemorrhagic disease, people do not need to fear. This is not transmissible to humans or pets,” said Olivia Sciandra, Wildlife Health Program Coordinator with DCNR. “With Chronic Wasting Disease, if a deer is positive for CWD, the CDC, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommend that people do not consume meat that is positive for CWD.”

DCNR says hemorrhagic disease is spread by biting flies, which was heightened by a warm spring and a dry summer being the perfect weather conditions for the flies to populate. According to the state, hemorrhagic disease is an annual outbreak that tapers off after the first freeze of the year as the biting flies die in the cold.

“Our agency would like to emphasize that Hemorrhagic Disease (HD) is a different disease from Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD. Unlike HD, deer with CWD do not have a chance to recover as this disease is fatal 100% of the time,” Sciandra said. “In Alabama, we have detected CWD in only two counties, Lauderdale and Colbert County, and our agency maintains a monitoring and surveillance program for CWD.”

The state has a disease surveillance and testing program for deer. You can report a sick deer at the link here.