In the US state of Ohio, the reports have been piling up since mid-August about so-called ‘zombie deer’. Footage from a police officer’s bodycam (see video above) shows officers approaching a sick animal that is disoriented and unresponsive on the street.
“You probably didn’t believe me,” a police officer is told in the video. “Well, you said zombie deer, so I thought…” replies for a second. The Ohio white-tailed deer suffers from epizootic hemorrhage (EHD), a disease caused by a virus called epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV).
EHD causes symptoms such as disorientation, swelling of the head, ulcerated changes in the tongue, gums, rumen and abomasum, and unnatural behavior. Animals infected with the pathogen usually die within just three days. “The deer was panting, blood was coming out of his eyes and his head was swollen,” Lieutenant Lara Fening describes the appearance of a sick animal.
Disease is transmitted by insects
The disease, which occurs in North America, Africa and Asia, is transmitted by mosquito bites or biting insects and is harmless to humans and pets, but livestock can experience mild symptoms. There is no treatment for infected deer.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is monitoring the outbreak of the disease, which is primarily caused in wild ungulates (e.g. antelopes) and has a similar course as in Europe, as well as bluetongue, which is also known to affect livestock in Europe, such as cattle. , sheep and goats.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
