Disease

Chagas disease reported in dogs working along the U.S.-Mexico border

More than 100 working dogs employed by the federal government across the United States have been infected with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the cause of Chagas disease, which may lead to heart problems. Chagas disease is a tropical infection spread by a blood-sucking triatomine or “kissing bug” that may pose a growing threat in the United States. Once known only in Mexico, Central America and South America, Chagas is now making tentative incursions into the United States, infecting canines and humans.

Illinois: Hundreds of deer die

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has received reports of 432 suspected cases of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in white-tailed deer so far in 2018.

EHD is a viral disease of white-tailed deer that can cause localized die-offs when conditions are favorable for transmission. Infected animals develop a high fever, and dead animals often are found near water sources. The virus is transmitted between deer by a midge that hatches from muddy areas along lakes/ponds and streams/rivers.