Disease: Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease / EHD / EHDV

Pathogen

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is caused by the Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (EHDV) of the Orbivirus genus (family Sedoreoviridae). The virus is related to the blue tongue virus (BTV), which is part of the same genus. There are multiple serotypes known of EHDV.

Serotype EHDV-8 has been causing outbreaks in Europe since 2022. EHD is a notifiable disease, which means that the NVWA has to be notified if EHD is suspected.

Source

Gondard, M., Postic, L., Garin, E., Turpaud, M., Vorimore, F., Ngwa-Mbot, D., Tran, M. L., Hoffmann, B., Warembourg, C., Savini, G., Lorusso, A., Marcacci, M., Felten, A., Roux, A. L., Blanchard, Y., Zientara, S., Vitour, D., Sailleau, C., & Bréard, E. (2024). Exceptional Bluetongue virus (BTV) and Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) circulation in France in 2023. Virus research, 350, 199489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199489

Lorusso, A., Cappai, S., Loi, F., Pinna, L., Ruiu, A., Puggioni, G., Guercio, A., Purpari, G., Vicari, D., Sghaier, S., Zientara, S., Spedicato, M., Hammami, S., Ben Hassine, T., Portanti, O., Breard, E., Sailleu, C., Ancora, M., Di Sabatino, D., Morelli, D., … Savini, G. (2023). Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype 8, Italy, 2022. Emerging infectious diseases, 29(5), 1063–1065. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2905.221773

Ruiz-Fons, F., García-Bocanegra, I., Valero, M., Cuadrado-Matías, R., Relimpio, D., Martínez, R., Baz-Flores, S., Gonzálvez, M., Cano-Terriza, D., Ortiz, J. A., Gortázar, C., & Risalde, M. A. (2024). Emergence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in red deer (Cervus elaphus), Spain, 2022. Veterinary microbiology, 292, 110069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110069

Susceptible species

Ruminants can be susceptible to EHDV infection. In the United States, the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is highly susceptible; this species is not found in the wild in the Netherlands. In Europe, the red deer (Cervus elaphus) is susceptible, as found in Italy and Spain. Other wild ruminant species, including roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and European fallow deer (Dama dama), can also be infected (experimentally). Cattle can become, sometimes seriously, ill. Sheep and goats can become infected, but do not show clinical symptoms.

 

Source

Anbalagan, S., & Hause, B. M. (2014). Characterization of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus from a bovine with clinical disease with high nucleotide sequence identity to white-tailed deer isolates. Archives of virology, 159, 2737-2740. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-014-2120-5

Gibbs, E. P., & Lawman, M. J. (1977). Infection of British deer and farm animals with epizootic haemorrhagic disease of deer virus. Journal of comparative pathology, 87(3), 335–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9975(77)90023-8

Gondard, M., Postic, L., Garin, E., Turpaud, M., Vorimore, F., Ngwa-Mbot, D., Tran, M. L., Hoffmann, B., Warembourg, C., Savini, G., Lorusso, A., Marcacci, M., Felten, A., Roux, A. L., Blanchard, Y., Zientara, S., Vitour, D., Sailleau, C., & Bréard, E. (2024). Exceptional Bluetongue virus (BTV) and Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) circulation in France in 2023. Virus research, 350, 199489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199489

Ruiz-Fons, F., García-Bocanegra, I., Valero, M., Cuadrado-Matías, R., Relimpio, D., Martínez, R., Baz-Flores, S., Gonzálvez, M., Cano-Terriza, D., Ortiz, J. A., Gortázar, C., & Risalde, M. A. (2024). Emergence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in red deer (Cervus elaphus), Spain, 2022. Veterinary microbiology, 292, 110069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110069

Signs in animals

In some susceptible cervids the disease can be more or less acute. The virus causes hemorrhaging, and symptoms may include high fever, cessation of feeding, severe shortness of breath, lethargy, weakness, ataxia (uncoordinated movements), a swollen head, protruding tongue, excessive salivation, and conjunctivitis (inflamed mucous membrane of the eye). The animal may develop ulcers in the mouth, on the tongue, and around the claws, and may become lame. In less susceptible species, infection can be subclinical, meaning without any visible signs of illness. After suffering the disease, animals develop long-lasting immunity.

 

Source

Maclachlan, N. J., Zientara, S., Savini, G., & Daniels, P. W. (2015). Epizootic haemorrhagic disease. Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics), 34(2), 341-351. https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.34.2.2361

Ruiz-Fons, F., García-Bocanegra, I., Valero, M., Cuadrado-Matías, R., Relimpio, D., Martínez, R., Baz-Flores, S., Gonzálvez, M., Cano-Terriza, D., Ortiz, J. A., Gortázar, C., & Risalde, M. A. (2024). Emergence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in red deer (Cervus elaphus), Spain, 2022. Veterinary microbiology, 292, 110069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110069

Infection of animals

EHDV is transmitted by a vector, namely midges (genus Culicoides). If an infected animal is bitten by a midge, the midge becomes infected with the virus. If this midge then bites another host, it can also become infected with the virus. EHDV is not transmitted from host to host or from host to human.

Source

Savini, G., Afonso, A., Mellor, P., Aradaib, I. A. O., Yadin, H., Sanaa, M., Wilson, W., Monaco, F., & Domingo, M. (2011). Epizootic haemorragic disease. Research in veterinary science, 91(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2011.05.004

Infection of people

EHD is not a zoonosis and thus can not be transmitted to humans.

Geographical distribution

The EHD virus (serotype 8) has spread northward in Europe since the first outbreaks in 2022:

  • 2022: First outbreaks in Europe in Sardinia, Italy, and southern Spain, likely imported via North Africa. The virus is detected in wild red deer in Spain and Italy.
  • 2023: First French cases in the southwest among domestic cattle.
  • 2024: The virus spreads to northern France among domestic cattle, see figure below.
  • 2025: No outbreaks of EHD were reported in France between June 1 and July 1, 2025.

Map of all outbreaks of EHDV in France. Source: Ministère de l’Agriculture et de la Souveraineté Alimentaire

Source

Gondard, M., Postic, L., Garin, E., Turpaud, M., Vorimore, F., Ngwa-Mbot, D., Tran, M. L., Hoffmann, B., Warembourg, C., Savini, G., Lorusso, A., Marcacci, M., Felten, A., Roux, A. L., Blanchard, Y., Zientara, S., Vitour, D., Sailleau, C., & Bréard, E. (2024). Exceptional Bluetongue virus (BTV) and Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) circulation in France in 2023. Virus research, 350, 199489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199489

Lorusso, A., Cappai, S., Loi, F., Pinna, L., Ruiu, A., Puggioni, G., Guercio, A., Purpari, G., Vicari, D., Sghaier, S., Zientara, S., Spedicato, M., Hammami, S., Ben Hassine, T., Portanti, O., Breard, E., Sailleu, C., Ancora, M., Di Sabatino, D., Morelli, D., … Savini, G. (2023). Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype 8, Italy, 2022. Emerging infectious diseases, 29(5), 1063–1065. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2905.221773

Ministère de l’Agriculture et de la Souveraineté Alimentaire. (2025, 3 juli). Maladie hémorragique épizootique (MHE) : point de situation sur une maladie émergente. https://agriculture.gouv.fr/mhe-la-maladie-hemorragique-epizootique

Ruiz-Fons, F., García-Bocanegra, I., Valero, M., Cuadrado-Matías, R., Relimpio, D., Martínez, R., Baz-Flores, S., Gonzálvez, M., Cano-Terriza, D., Ortiz, J. A., Gortázar, C., & Risalde, M. A. (2024). Emergence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in red deer (Cervus elaphus), Spain, 2022. Veterinary microbiology, 292, 110069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110069

Preventative measures

A vaccine is available for cattle.

Source

European Medicines Agency. (2025, March 14). First vaccine against epizootic haemorrhagic disease recommended for approval. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/first-vaccine-against-epizootic-haemorrhagic-disease-recommended-approval

External information

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