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A virus has been detected in free-ranging white-tailed deer from four Michigan counties, according to state officials.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said on Sept. 9 that it has detected epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) virus in free-ranging white-tailed deer from Branch, Ingham, Jackson and Lenawee counties.
The DNR Wildlife Health Section and Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the EHD virus in the first detections for 2026. The DNR will post any further detections on its EHD webpage.
What is epizootic hemorrhagic disease?
EHD is a viral, sometimes deadly disease that can periodically affect white-tailed deer in Michigan. According to the Michigan DNR, it’s transmitted through the bite of an infected midge or biting fly. Deer can’t transmit the disease directly to one another — it has to pass through the insect.
The virus typically impacts deer in late summer and early fall. The DNR said outbreaks can be more severe in years with a wet spring followed by a hot, dry summer, but the first frost kills the midge population and stops disease transmission. Sometimes localized outbreaks were found in a dozen or more counties.
State officials said there is no evidence that humans, pets or other Michigan wildlife can contract the EHD virus.
Venison harvested in areas impacted by EHD is safe to eat, Michigan DNR said.
“We do not recommend consuming any animals that are visibly sick, but healthy deer harvested from areas where EHD has been present are still safe to eat,” said Brent Rudolph, deer, elk, and moose management specialist for the DNR Wildlife Division. “So far, we are seeing EHD on the landscape at levels similar to 2025.”
How to report sick or dead deer
Anyone who suspects they have found a deer that has contracted or died from EHD is asked to submit a diseased wildlife report through the DNR’s Eyes in the Field online system.
Sick or dead deer are usually found in or around bodies of water. Infected deer often seek water to lower their body temperature or to rehydrate due to a high fever or dehydration.
Symptoms of infected deer include appearing lethargic, disoriented, lame or unresponsive, but the DNR said these can be symptoms of other deer maladies or injuries as well. Infected deer might also show bloody discharge from the nose and mouth, a swollen or blue-tinged tongue and swelling of the eyelids and around the neck or head.
EHD can only be confirmed through testing by a qualified laboratory.
Little impact on deer populations expected, says DNR
Although EHD outbreaks have not shown a major long-term effect on deer populations in Michigan, the DNR said deer mortality can be intense in small geographic areas, and local impacts can persist for a few years.
Dr. Scott Larson, a veterinarian for the DNR Wildlife Division, said not all deer in the outbreak area will contract EHD, and not all deer that get EHD will die from it.
Click here to learn more about EHD in white-tailed deer.
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