By Blake Jackson
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has confirmed that samples from non-lactating dairy cattle in Waukesha County tested positive for the virus that causes epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). The disease has also been identified in tissue samples collected from wild and captive deer in the area.
EHD is a viral disease spread by biting midges, sometimes called no-see-ums. Cases are most common during late summer and early fall, when these insects are more active and abundant. EHD activity generally decreases following the season’s first significant frost. Wisconsin previously identified EHD in cattle in 2013.
Cattle rarely develop noticeable illness from EHD, unlike deer, which can be more severely affected. When symptoms occur, cattle may develop lameness, lesions on the legs, mouth or teats, excessive drooling, fever, or weight loss.
Although illness is generally mild in cattle, some EHD-related lesions can resemble signs associated with foreign animal diseases, making laboratory testing important for an accurate diagnosis.
Livestock owners who notice possible EHD symptoms in cattle or farm-raised deer should contact their veterinarian. Veterinarians can collect blood, spleen, lung, or lymph node samples for laboratory analysis to distinguish EHD from diseases with similar clinical signs.
If a foreign animal disease is suspected, owners should work with their veterinarian to promptly notify a DATCP district veterinarian.
There is currently no specific treatment for EHD. The confirmed cases indicate that the virus is circulating locally. Producers should work with veterinarians to support overall herd health, manage parasites and biting insects, provide adequate nutrition, and reduce overcrowding.
DATCP says EHD does not infect people. There is no evidence that humans face a health risk from insect bites or from direct contact with, or consumption of, meat or milk from infected cattle or deer.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-jacqueline-nix
Categories: Wisconsin, Livestock, Dairy Cattle