Nebraska Has Nine Cases of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease
By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has confirmed nine cases of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in cattle. The disease was originally found in Nebraska’s deer population in the 1970s and can be transmitted from deer to cattle by insects called midges.
There are several symptoms of EHD in cattle including – fever, loss of appetite, reduced milk production, swollen eyes, redness and scaling of the nose and lips, nasal and eye discharge, ulcers on the mouth, lameness, swelling of the tongue, nasal blisters and laboured breathing. Ranchers who are seeing these symptoms in their cattle herd should contact their veterinarian immediately.
“The extreme hot and dry conditions that have persisted across Nebraska have contributed to the number of cases we are experiencing. The first frost should eliminate the disease-spreading midges,” said Nebraska Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Hughes.
There are no known preventative or treatment options for cattle that have been diagnosed with EHD.