Credit: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife

The recent cold snap experienced across Kentucky has effectively ended the state’s outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in white-tailed deer. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease is a viral disease transmitted to deer by biting flies or midges, but does not affect people or pets, with outbreaks ceasing at the first frost, killing the bugs. Reports of sick or dead deer in some eastern Kentucky counties were received by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, with the disease being confirmed in August. Over 1800 individual cases were reported, with over 4500 suspected cases being documented. The epicenter of the outbreak in Kentucky appeared to be in Floyd and Pike counties.