Hemorrhagic Disease: Signs and Symptoms

Clinical signs are highly variable and can range from asymptomatic cases to high mortality events (death within one to three days). Visible signs can change as the disease progresses. Early signs of infection can include:

• Blood around nose and mouth, in urine and feces
• Excessive salivation
• Depression and lethargy
• Feverish
• Swollen head, neck, tongue or eyelids
• Difficulty breathing

Signs of long-term infection may include:

• Lameness
• Emaciation (loss of weight)
• Apathetic toward humans

Due to the high fever associated with HD, dead or dying animals are often found near water or lying on cool, moist soil.

Humans are not at risk of infection from handling infected animals, eating venison from infected animals, or being bitten by infected biting midges. However, because bacterial infections or abscesses occur secondary to HD, the meat may not be suitable for consumption.