Surveillance for Hemorrhagic Disease in White-tailed Deer and Other Wild Ruminants, 1980-1989
The orbiviruses, epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) virus or bluetongue (BT) virus, cause a disease syndrome termed hemorrhagic disease (HD) in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and several other wild ruminants. An annual mail survey of state wildlife agencies was conducted from 1980-1989 to estimate the occurrence of HD in the continental United States. Thirty-one states reported confirmed or suspected HD activity, and 1,608 occurrences were reported in 880 counties or parishes. Cases of HD were reported throughout most of the Southeast and much of the Midwest and northern Great...