Rabbit Disease Spreading
by
Joe Ewing, Correspondent, Reporting
photo by J. Ewing
As of April 2022, RHDV2 has been confirmed in WILD RABBITS in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Oregon.
Source, Wildlife
Health.org
As reported several months ago on these pages the deadly rabbit disease RHD (Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease) is spreading. RHD has now been found in several more western states, several southwestern states, and a domestic case in New York State. RHDV2 has been confirmed in domestic rabbits in all states with wild cases as well as Tennessee, New York, Kentucky, Mississippi, Minnesota, South Dakota, Georgia, and Florida.
RHDV2, a variant of RHD, is very contagious among wild and domestic rabbits. RHDV2 is responsible for mass “die-offs” in both domestic and wild rabbits according to a wildlife veterinarian for the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC).
The PGC Board has approved an RHD Response Plan to protect wild rabbits and hares in PA. The move followed an order last year that prohibits the importation into Pennsylvania of any wild lagomorph, or any of their parts from any state or country known to have cases of RHDV2 in the past 12 months. The PA Dept. of Agriculture has issued a similar order pertaining to domestic rabbits. PA hunters who hunt out of state are alerted and advised to observe the order. Beagle club managers who buy domestic rabbits for training are cautioned to be on the alert.
RHD is similar to avian influenza. They are both viral diseases that can be spread by contact with secretions which lead to high rates of sickness and death in rabbits. RHDV2 can be spread through direct contact with infected rabbits, or exposure to infected bodily fluids. Hunters and beaglers should use caution when handling rabbit remains. Rabbits found dead in the wild should not be handled.
The virus can also survive and spread on carcasses, food, water, and other contaminated materials. Scavengers and birds may play a role in transmission of the RHD virus. There seems to be no live test available for RHDV2, however, there is a vaccine for domestic rabbits only. The only signs of the disease are sudden death and blood staining around the nose, caused by internal bleeding. Many of the rabbits recently confirmed with RHDV2 in the U.S. have shown no clinical signs other than sudden death.
A USDA map of counties with confirmed cases of RHDV2 in wild and domestic rabbits, as of March 20, 2022, can be found at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/maps/animal-health/rhd
