CHAMPAIGN (AP) – The drought that’s dried out much of the Midwest is now fueling an outbreak of a disease often fatal to deer in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said Thursday.

More than 700 deer are known to have been killed so far this summer in Illinois by Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, or EHD, the Department of Natural Resources said. The incidents have occurred primarily in hard-hit southern and central parts of the state, as well as Cook County. Deer deaths also are being reported in those neighboring states, though numbers were not immediately available.

The viral disease is spread by biting gnats and leads to internal bleeding. It doesn’t affect people, and domestic animals rarely develop serious illnesses when infected, DNR deer project manager Tom Micetich said.