Jerry Feaser Pennsylvania Game Commission Posted: Mon Sept 24 2007 12:05 p.m. Post subject: PA Game Commission News Release: EHD Information Meeeting/Update on Bird Deaths Release #123-07 Sept. 19, 2007 For Information Contact: Jerry Feaser 717-705-6541 PGCNEWS@state.pa.us The following news release contains two articles: 1) GAME COMMISSION SETS INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON EHD OUTBREAK 2) GAME COMMISSION RELEASES RESULTS OF DAUPHIN COUNTY BIRD DEATHS GAME COMMISSION SETS INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON EHD OUTBREAK HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Game Commission Southwest Region Director Matthew Hough today announced the agency would hold an informational meeting at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28, at the Waynesburg Fairgrounds Auction Building, Greene County, to provide the public with an update on the current outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in the southwestern part of the state. In addition to Southwest Region agency personnel, Dr. Walter Cottrell, Game Commission wildlife veterinarian, will be on hand to present information and answer questions about EHD and on the current outbreak. Additionally, to provide the public with more information about EHD, the agency has posted an EHD fact sheet on its website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). The website also chronicles the agency's news releases issued about this outbreak since Aug. 27. "Though difficult to determine the precise number of deer that have died from EHD, our officers' observations and those of concerned citizens suggest the number exceeds 1,000 animals at this time and could increase," Hough said. "An actual body count of afflicted deer is almost impossible to obtain, because tissue samples must be extracted within 24 hours of death to be suitable for conducting tests, there is rapid decomposition of affected deer and the area where the outbreak is occurring it large. That is why it is important that we hear from residents as soon as possible." Hough urged residents with information about other sick or dead deer to contact the Southwest Region Office at 724-238-9523. So far, EHD has been confirmed in Beaver, Greene and Washington counties, and is suspected of causing deer deaths in Allegheny, Cambria and Westmoreland counties. EHD is a common but sporadic disease in white-tailed deer populations of the United States, and is contracted by the bite of insects called "biting midges." In more northern states, such as Pennsylvania, EHD occurs less often and the deer are less able to mount an effective immune response. The virus usually kills the naïve animal within five to 10 days. It is not spread from deer to deer by contact. While EHD is not infectious to humans, deer displaying severe symptoms of EHD are usually not suitable for consumption because of the rapid deterioration of the meat and secondary bacterial infection. "This outbreak of EHD is more significant than the one in 2002, as it occurred earlier in the year and has impacted more deer in a larger area," Dr. Cottrell said. "The fact that we are finding EHD earlier this year means that it will take longer before the first good frost, which is what is needed to kill the insects responsible for spreading the virus." Dr. Cottrell reminded hunters that EHD cannot be contracted by humans and it is rare for this virus to cause clinical signs in traditional livestock, such as cattle, sheep or goats. However, as has been the case occasionally in the past, there is evidence of an EHD outbreak in domestic cattle, both dairy and beef, in southwestern Ohio, while sheep on one of the two farms affected do not seem to be ill. However, farmed deer and elk are susceptible. Anyone who suspects EHD in their livestock should contact their private veterinary practitioner. "While there is no evidence that humans are at risk from EHD, other diseases may be transmitted by careless hygiene when processing deer. As a routine precaution, all hunters are encouraged to wear rubber or latex gloves when handling or field-dressing any animal, and wash their hands and tools thoroughly after field dressing," Dr. Cottrell said. "As with any wild game, meat should always be thoroughly cooked." Dr. Cottrell stressed that even though some EHD symptoms are similar to those of chronic wasting disease (CWD) - such as excessive drooling, weakness and a loss of fear of humans - there is no relationship between EHD and CWD. "However, because these diseases coexist, as many of the deer as possible that are submitted for EHD testing also are being tested for CWD," Dr. Cottrell said. "It also is worth noting that like CWD, EHD is one of those diseases whose mortality rate can be amplified by anything that serves to congregate deer, such as supplemental feeding, and placement of salt or mineral blocks. While the disease is not spread through deer to deer contact, congregating animals through feeding does make transmission easier by allowing midges that carry the virus greater access to a larger number of animals in a more confined area. Therefore, such feeding activities should be discontinued immediately." Cottrell added that EHD, unlike CWD, is a seasonal disease and agreed that the affected local deer herd will rebound quickly. "The good news from this situation is that the public is reporting these sightings to the Game Commission," Cottrell said. "Should the state's deer herd be infected with other serious diseases, the Game Commission will need to rely on the continued vigilance of the public so that we can respond in a timely manner." EHD was first confirmed in Pennsylvania in 2002, when an outbreak caused the death of 70 deer in Greene and Washington counties. That same year, EHD was confirmed in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. In 1996, EHD was suspected to be the cause of death in nearly 25 deer in Adams County, but test results in that case were inconclusive. This year, numerous other states also are finding EHD-related mortality, including: Alabama; Georgia; Tennessee; Kentucky; Indiana; South Carolina; North Carolina; Virginia; Ohio; and West Virginia.   GAME COMMISSION RELEASES RESULTS OF DAUPHIN COUNTY BIRD DEATHS HARRISBURG - Dr. Walter Cottrell, Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife veterinarian, today announced that the test results from five tree swallows and a purple martin confirm that the birds died of starvation and environmental exposure. "These birds were found to be in generally good body condition, but they had no food in their crops or gizzards, and their intestines had less content than would be expected," Dr. Cottrell said. "The birds had no significant lesions, but it appears that they had not been eating for a day or two." On Thursday, Aug. 23, agency officials submitted four swallows and one purple martin to the state Department of Agriculture's Animal Health and Diagnostic Laboratory for testing. The birds had been found near a marina along the Susquehanna River near Middletown, Dauphin County. Dr. Cottrell also noted that tests conducted for avian influenza came back negative for all five birds. Tree swallows are primarily insect eaters, and prefer open water areas, usually with marshy margins. Purple martins are a large, dark swallow, and they prefer to eat flies, mosquitoes and wasps. "The starvation may have occurred as a result of the cold rainy weather that hit the area during the nighttime, and that presumably affected their food supply," Dr. Cottrell said. In spite of pleas to the public, the Game Commission did not receive any physical evidence regarding reports that waterfowl and egrets also had been found dead along the Susquehanna River near Middletown. "While we had received calls from the public and news media suggesting mortality in those species, we did not receive any reports that lead to samples to submit for testing," Dr. Cottrell noted. # # #

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Monday, September 24, 2007