MEDIA ADVISORY

Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, October 15, 2002

CITY OF FREDERICK INFORMED TODAY

THAT FORT DETRICK ATTEMPTING

TO EUTHANIZE SICK DEER

Frederick, Md. --- The City of Frederick was informed today that the Fort Detrick Provost Marshal Office is attempting to locate a sick deer on the installation and euthanize so that it may be tested to determine the event causing the illness.  In recent weeks, nine deer on the Fort Detrick property have died. 

Last Friday Fort Detrick tested one dead deer to determine the cause of death, and it was determined that it had been hit by a car. Since that time three other dead deer were found.  Deer may die of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) but Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in White-tailed Deer seems to be affecting deer in the surrounding area.    Any dead deer found on Fort Detrick will be taken to the Frederick County Animal Health Laboratory on Rosement for testing.

The size of the deer herd living on the installation ranges from 100 to120 deer.

Hemorrhagic Disease is an acute, infectious, often fatal viral disease of deer and elk that is caused by Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease virus. This disease is characterized by extensive hemorrhages and has been responsible for significant disease outbreaks in portions of the northern United States and parts of southern Canada. It is the most important endemic infectious disease of white-tailed deer in the southeastern US.  It is not infectious to humans, dogs, or cats. There is no known effective treatment or control for HD. More information is available at the following website:  http://dnrweb.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease1999/101599c.html.

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