Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) is a very contagious and deadly disease caused by the calcivirus. It kills swiftly and with little warning. Until 2020, it was not known to affect the wild rabbit population in the US. The pet rabbit population in the US was also free from this disease except for the very rare isolated cases. A second strain (known as RHDV2) has overtaken and largely replaced the 1st strain of the virus.
Unfortunately, this disease has now been spreading rather rapidly across the US. It has affected both the wild population and the pet rabbit population. For a current map that shows where RHDV2 has been found, click the button tab.
|
Vaccines against this disease have been and are currently used in Europe but are not widely available here in the US. That has been changing quickly over the past few years. Those living in areas of known outbreaks should check with their local exotic vet for possible vaccine availability.
Annual vaccines are required to help protect against RHDV. |
What are the possible symptoms?
Report suspicious rabbit deaths of wild rabbits or pet rabbits.
If you see rabbits in the wild that have died in clusters or over a short period of time and those deaths are unexplained or suspicious, report it to your vet. Vets are instructed to report these deaths so that appropriate tests can be performed. You may also contact your state's wildlife officials. Do not touch the dead rabbits.
If you suspect your pet rabbit may be infected, don't take your rabbit out of the house. First call your vet and asked for instruction. If you suspect your rabbit has died of RHDV, do not bury him/her. Contact your vet for appropriate instruction.
If you suspect your pet rabbit may be infected, don't take your rabbit out of the house. First call your vet and asked for instruction. If you suspect your rabbit has died of RHDV, do not bury him/her. Contact your vet for appropriate instruction.
The House Rabbit Society has much information on this topic that is being updated as new cases are reported. Further detail about the vaccines and other RHDV resources can be found there.