Published: September 28, 2009 07:10 am      

Officials track disease that killed deer

FENTON, Mich. (AP) -- State officials suspect the deaths of more than 100 deer in southeast Michigan may have been caused by the same disease that killed animals in 2006 and 2008.

The Detroit Free Press reports the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is awaiting results of tests to determine if the deer were suffering from epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, which is spread by gnats and midges.

The possible EHD outbreak in a 50-square-mile area south of Fenton is the third in Michigan in four years. DNR pathologist Tom Cooley says the outbreak started in July and probably peaked in late August and September.

EHD cannot infect humans.

The outbreak is expected to ease once a frost kills off the insects.