PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (AP) -- State wildlife officials believe hemorrhagic disease killed several deer in Calhoun County.

Wildlife biologist Jeff McCrady tells the Parkersburg News and Sentinel (http://bit.ly/SPe11s ) that the Division of Natural Resources is treating the cases as an outbreak.

There also have been reports of the disease in Roane County.

McCrady says samples from the Calhoun County deer were sent to the University of Georgia for testing.

The disease is transmitted by gnats. It causes deer to hemorrhage internally and dehydrate. There is no treatment.

McCrady says the disease's spread stops in the fall when freezing temperatures arrive.