Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is a disease of viral origin that can affect, in addition to domestic ruminants, various species of wild deer, including deer, fallow deer and roe deer. For this reason, since the confirmation of its presence in Spain in September 2022, the possible impact of the disease on these species has been monitored in the southwest of the peninsula.
This year, the presence of the EGE virus has been confirmed in 3 deer in the municipality of El Pedroso, province of Seville, and in recent days the SVO have been notified of some cases of deer deaths in the reserves, which are also currently under investigation.
Deer with clinical signs of infection may have fever, weakness, loss of appetite, and loss of flight instinct. In less severe cases, thinning may occur. The mortality observed so far in deer is moderate and non-explosive and is about 3-4%. In addition, late abortions, problems during childbirth, mortality of newborn kittens associated with infection of pregnant females can be observed.
In order to study the current situation of EGE in wild deer populations, as well as to coordinate disease monitoring in them, allowing to obtain information for assessing its impact in the field, MACO held a meeting with technical specialists from the Institute for Hunting Resources (IREC), the hunting sector (ARTEMISAN) and autonomous communities previously affected by the disease (Andalusia, Extremadura and Castile-La Mancha),
As a result of this meeting, a document of recommendations was agreed and a monitoring system for EGP was established through an online survey in the coming months in wild deer populations in the affected areas, through which it will be compiled from uniformly across the country information on the extent of their damage in cooperation with environmental authorities, veterinary doctors, hunting grounds, laboratories and researchers. On the other hand, given the current epidemiological situation, a recommendation was agreed not to move deer from reserves located within the affected areas.
On the other hand, regarding the situation of EHE in domestic ruminants, since the last update of the disease data carried out on July 6, the Central Veterinary Laboratory (LCV) of Algete has confirmed 3 new cases, 2 of them in the regions de Montoro and Villanueva de Córdoba (province of Córdoba) and 1 in Casalla de la Sierra (Seville), detection of other cattle farms due to clinical suspicion. See map for outbreaks announced to date.
Finally, MAPA reminds us of the importance of maintaining a good level of passive surveillance by immediately reporting to the competent authority any suspected disease in susceptible species, whether domestic or wild.
