kentucky deer dying

[dorris]

Hemorrhagic Disease Suspected in Deer Deaths
in 11 Kentucky Counties

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Aug 14, 2007  

 

Learn more about hemorrhagic disease


Frankfort, Ky. - The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is investigating recent reports of white-tailed deer deaths in 11 counties, primarily in western Kentucky. Officials suspect the animals died of hemorrhagic disease.

The most significant outbreak is in McLean County, where more than 20 deer have been reported dead. Officials have also received reports of deer deaths in Breckinridge, Christian, Daviess, Hopkins, Logan, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson and Webster counties. People usually find the dead or weak and emaciated deer near water.

“Hemorrhagic disease is caused by a virus. We see large outbreaks about every two years in Kentucky,” said Danny Watson, a wildlife biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

With deer hunting seasons opening next month, hunters are concerned about the safety of eating deer that may be infected with hemorrhagic disease. Hemorrhagic disease is not infectious to humans.

Biting gnats transmit hemorrhagic disease between deer. Hemorrhagic disease usually occurs in late summer and early fall because of the increased presence of these biting gnats. Although deer affected with the acute form of hemorrhagic disease are most often seen in late summer, deer with chronic cases can be found in winter.

Hemorrhagic disease occurs annually in the southeastern United States, but its distribution and severity of occurrence widely varies. Less than 25 percent of the deer in a population usually die from the disease, but death rates can be higher in certain cases.

Signs of the disease depend on the strength of the virus and length of infection in the animal. Hemorrhagic disease causes fever, labored breathing and swelling of the head, neck, tongue and eyelids. Infected deer may die within 72 hours, or they may slowly deteriorate for months from lameness and starvation. Early in the cycle of the disease, animals may show little or no sign of infection. Infected deer that survive for a period of time experience lameness, loss of appetite and greatly reduced activity.

In some instances, outbreaks occurred simultaneously in deer, sheep and cattle. This is not due to the disease spreading from deer to livestock or vice versa, but is an indication the biting gnats are present in significant numbers to transmit disease

[Artur]

Originally posted by dorris:
Hemorrhagic Disease Suspected in Deer Deaths
in 11 Kentucky Counties


“Hemorrhagic disease is caused by a virus.... Hemorrhagic disease is not infectious to humans....

Biting gnats transmit hemorrhagic disease....

Interesting news article. I say interesting because of how the virus itself is downplayed. During the Korean war -- sorry, I mean "Police Action", Hemmorhagic Fever played a large part in killing many soldiers, on both sides of the "Police Action". Medical Authorities didn't know what caused it in the beginning, but they do now:
 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/vhf.htm
In 1918, the Great Influenza Pandemic wiped out a very large portion of the Human Species, and it was caused by a mutated form of a virus which USUALLY affects only birds. Today, we are dealing with diseases such as "Mad Cow", transmitted to Humans by eating meat contaminated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE); I remember how fervently our Government(s) assured everyone that there was no possible way to become sick just from eating meat contaminated with BSE...

People, your Elected Officials are not telling you everything, because they "do not wish to alarm you". Remember how you were told that BSE cannot be transmitted to deer? Remember how entire deer herds were later destroyed to keep the disease from spreading any further? Remember how the Authorities lied to you about how dangerous the disease really is? Remember how it was found that the outbreaks of BSE came about mostly because of feedlot practices of using animal "by-products" -- entrails, brains, skins, etc -- in animal feed (it costs less, and that's all that matters!)?

I ask you all, what are they not telling everyone this time -- and exactly how sure are they that this hemmorhagic disease CANNOT be transmitted to Humans?