Outbreak of deer-killing virus prompts warning to meat eaters
DNR says humans are not at risk from handling or eating venison, but hunters should avoid deer with large open sores as cases rise in several Eastern states.
Maryland officials said an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, is killing white-tailed deer across the state and has prompted a warning to hunters about venison from infected animals. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources said nearly 100 cases have been confirmed in recent weeks. While the agency stressed that humans are not at risk from handling or eating meat from affected deer, it urged people not to consume deer that display large, open sores, regardless of cause.
EHD is caused by a virus transmitted to deer through bites from tiny midges, often called no-see-ums. The disease is seasonal, typically peaking in late summer and fall. In deer, EHD can cause internal bleeding, breathing problems and swelling around the eyes, along with extreme fatigue; severe cases can be fatal. The virus is not spread through direct contact between deer and there is no evidence that humans can contract EHD from handling or eating venison.
In addition to Maryland, cases have been reported in Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia as the outbreak continues to spread in parts of the Northeast. New York has not officially reported EHD cases this year; however, the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab notes that outbreaks have occurred in New York state each year since 2020, including a major 2020 outbreak in the lower Hudson Valley that killed about 1,500 deer.
Experts emphasize that although EHD is a wildlife health concern, there is no known risk to people from handling or consuming venison from infected deer. Hunters are advised to follow local advisories, inspect deer for extensive sores and avoid consuming meat from animals with obvious wounds. Standard food-safety practices—proper field dressing, cold storage and thorough cooking—remain important for general meat safety, but there is no evidence that EHD itself poses a risk to humans.
Wildlife agencies will continue to monitor EHD activity as the late-summer to fall period unfolds and will issue updated guidance as needed. The outbreak underscores the ongoing threat EHD poses to deer populations across the region and to hunters who rely on venison as part of their season.
