VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported the first 2025 cases of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) have been detected in free-ranging white tail deer in several of the state’s southern counties, including Van Buren County.
The DNR Wildlife Health Section, Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study also confirmed cases out of Eaton, Jackson, and Washtenaw counties, officials said.
According to the DNR, EHD is a viral, sometimes fatal disease that periodically affects white-tailed deer. It is transmitted through the bite of an infected midge — also known as biting fly.
The virus must pass through the insect, as deer cannot transmit EHD directly to one another, officials said.
“In past years when we’ve confirmed EHD, it has typically affected only one or a few counties,” said Brent Rudolph, deer, elk, and moose management specialist for the DNR Wildlife Division. “Occasionally, localized outbreaks have been detected in a dozen or more counties, including as many as thirty in 2012.”
The DNR said there is no evidence that humans, household pets, or other Michigan wildlife can contract the EHD virus; venison harvested in areas affected by EHD is safe for consumption.
Some common symptoms of EHD in deer include appearing lethargic, disoriented, lame or unresponsive. Bloody discharge from the nose and mouth, a swollen or blue-tinged tongue, as well as swelling of the eyelids and around the neck or head are also symptoms of the virus, according to officials.
Anyone who suspects they have found a deer that has contracted or died from EHD is asked to submit a diseased wildlife report through the DNR’s “Eyes in the Field” online system.
EHD outbreaks typically occur during the late summer and early fall. To track any further detections in Michigan, visit the DNR’s EHD webpage.