WHAT IS IT
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a highly contagious virus infecting wild and domestic rabbits and hares.
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE
The rabbit hemorrhagic disease kills up to 80% of infected animals and is rapidly spreading throughout parts of North America.
WHY THE LOSS OF RABBITS IS IMPORTANT
The loss of wild rabbits will negatively impact food webs, ecosystem health, and hunting opportunities.
The loss of domestic rabbits will strongly impact pet owners.
The losses to the wide-spread domestic rabbit trade could cause substantial damage to the U.S. economy.
WHERE IS RHDV2
RECENT NEWS
-
Washington Confirms First Wild Rabbit RHDV2 Case
Testing has confirmed that a rabbit on Whidbey Island died of rabbit hemorrhagic disease earlier this month. This is the first known case of the disease in a wild lagomorph (rabbits, hares, and pikas) in Read more…
-
Illinois Reports First RHDV2 Case
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV2) was detected for the first time in Illinois in a domestic rabbit on July 13, 2023. Prior to this detection, the disease had not been diagnosed in Illinois domestic or wild Read more…
-
RHDV2 Outbreak in Texas
RHDV2 has recently expanded eastward across the state into the Hill Country portion of the state. At least 5 counties have detected RHDV2 in Texas in 2023. These include Mills, Reeves, Gillespie, Terrell, and Brewster Read more…