Michigan reports first epizootic hemorrhagic disease cases in deer this year

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced that epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) has been detected in free-ranging white-tailed deer in Branch, Ingham, Jackson and Lenawee counties, marking the first confirmed cases for 2026. The findings were verified by the DNR Wildlife Health Section and the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, with additional results to be posted as more samples are analyzed.

EHD spreads through bites from infected midges or other biting flies and cannot be passed directly between deer. Officials said there is no evidence the virus can infect humans, pets or other wildlife. > "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."

The disease typically appears in late summer and early fall, with outbreaks intensifying after wet springs and hot, dry summers before ending when frost kills the midge population. Michigan has recorded localized outbreaks in more than a dozen counties previously, with a peak of 30 counties affected in 2012.

The DNR is asking the public to report suspected cases via its Eyes in the Field online system. Infected deer often gather near water sources and show signs such as lethargy, disorientation, lameness, bloody nasal or oral discharge, swollen or bluish tongues, and swelling around the eyes, neck or head.

Dr. Scott Larsen, a veterinarian with the DNR Wildlife Division, noted that not all deer in affected areas become infected and not all infected animals die. > "The impacts of EHD on northern states seems to be changing. As weather in Michigan has become warmer and wetter, conditions have become more favorable to the EHD virus and the biting midges that carry it. A different strain of the virus has also emerged in this part of the country in the last few years, making for a more complex situation for deer herds to develop immunity, since immunity to one strain doesn’t necessarily provide full immunity to other strains."

While the disease has not produced significant long-term declines in the state's deer population, mortality can be high in localized areas, with effects persisting for several years.