Deadly Virus Spreads Through Mid-Atlantic Deer Herds

As of September 26th, 2025, a concerning viral outbreak has been ravaging white-tailed deer populations across the Mid-Atlantic region. The disease, known as epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), is being spread by tiny biting flies called "no-see-ums" that feed on the blood of infected deer and transmit the virus to others.

Wildlife officials in the Washington, D.C. area first received reports of dead deer near Dulles International Airport late last month. Tissue samples confirmed the deer had succumbed to the often-fatal EHD virus. Since then, authorities in Maryland and Virginia have documented dozens of deer deaths likely linked to the outbreak, with the heaviest losses in counties surrounding the nation's capital.

The virus typically affects white-tailed deer between mid-August and October, as the insect vectors are most active during this period. Once a frost arrives, the midges that spread EHD will die off, and the outbreak is expected to subside. However, the damage has already been significant, with nearly 100 deer deaths reported in Maryland alone across nine counties.

While alarming for wildlife, the EHD virus poses no known risk to humans or household pets. However, experts caution that deer harvested with severe sores or open lesions should not be consumed. Officials are urging the public to report any suspected EHD-related deer deaths to their local wildlife agencies, though carcasses are typically left to decompose naturally unless they pose a hazard.