Pennsylvania Taxidermist Association

     Epizootic Hemmorhagic Disease (EHD) is a viral disease that occassionally enters Pennsylvania when prevailing weather patterns enable the insect vector (Culicoides spp) to advance this far north. 2007 has been a particularly noteworthy year for EHD in Pennsylvania. Previously, 2002 was the most recent significant EHD presence here, with much less impact than this year's outbreak.
     Currently, positive EHD cases are occurring in wild white-tailed deer in our southwestern and southern tier counties. Continued positive EHD cases are also occurring in farmed deer located in Franklin County. Presumably, all farmed deer located in the affected counties are at risk. Confirmed positive EHD cases in cattle are occurring in Franklin, Somerset, and Washington Counties.
     The cattle cases this year have been characterized by a few animals in the herd displaying dramatic oral erosions, fever, and drooling. Some lameness with coronary band lesions and also teat lesions have been reported. Both beef and dairy animals have been affected this year with no death losses reported this far.
     The Department and USDA APHIS VS are responding to reports in domestic livestock including farmed deer. Please contact our 24/7 line if you know of a suspect case: (717) 772-2852. As a routine precaution, the Department may impose a temporary quarantine on the affected livestock until foreign animal diseases can be ruled out.
     It is expected that the current epizootic will subside as killing frosts occur with cooler weather. The Department does authorize autogenous killed EHD vaccine usage for those wishing to pursue this opton.