Eastern U.S. Deer Die-Off Linked to Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Prompts Meat Guidance
Authorities say a virus carried by tiny midges is causing widespread deer deaths in the region; hunters are urged not to eat meat from animals found dead.
An outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is killing hundreds of white-tailed deer across the eastern United States, prompting meat-safety warnings for hunters. Officials say the virus is carried by tiny biting midges that are barely visible to the naked eye and cannot be transmitted to people.
In Maryland, wildlife officials have recorded 97 deer deaths likely linked to EHD this year across nine counties, down from 173 cases last year. In Virginia, about 20 deer deaths have been documented in 2025, concentrated in Loudoun, Fairfax and Arlington counties. Pennsylvania and West Virginia have reported dozens of additional cases, and Washington, D.C., has not yet confirmed any EHD cases, according to the district's wildlife biologist. The disease has been detected in several states since late spring and summer, with midges spreading the virus by feeding on infected deer.
Experts note that deer with EHD may not show outward signs, and authorities advise against eating meat from any deer found dead in the woods, particularly near water. Maryland's Department of Natural Resources says affected deer can appear healthy at first; signs typically appear five to 10 days after a bite and may include loss of appetite, weakness, excessive drooling, labored breathing and swelling around the head or eyes. In severe cases, deer may become exhausted, stumble, and slip into a coma.
Although humans cannot be infected by EHD, the disease is part of a broader pattern of wildlife health risks in the region. The same midges that transmit EHD can carry other pathogens, including viruses such as Oropouche, though such human cases are rare in the United States. Midges are most active in warm, humid months and tend to die off by October after the first frost, a seasonal change that can reduce transmission risk later in the fall.
In addition to EHD, wildlife officials have reported unrelated deer health issues this year, including cases of deer cutaneous fibroma, or deer warts, observed on deer across parts of the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest. Social-media posts have shown growths and unusual lesions; wildlife agencies say these conditions are not connected to EHD, but they underscore ongoing wildlife health challenges as temperatures rise and habitats shift. Scientists note that climate change can influence the distribution of insects that spread disease and the timing of outbreaks, potentially extending the window of risk for deer and other wildlife.
State and federal wildlife agencies will continue monitoring deer die-offs and advising hunters on safe practices. Officials emphasize that the risk to people remains low, but the impact on hunting seasons, rural economies and ecosystems can be significant when large deer populations decline. As summer fades and fall approaches, agencies expect midge activity to decline, which could ease EHD transmission in coming weeks, though monitoring will continue given regional temperature and humidity trends.