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
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New Florida Case – Palm Beach County
On May 27, 2022, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) wasnotified that a single domestic rabbit residing in Palm Beach County had tested positive forRabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Type 2 (RHDV-2). The Read more…
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RHDV2 Confirmed in Endangered Riparian Brush Rabbit – May 20, 2022
May 20, 2022 – The first case of RHDV2 was been confirmed in the Riparian Brush Rabbit (a subspecies of the western brush rabbit), an endangered rabbit found only in small patches of remaining riparian Read more…
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Washington State – RHDV2 Case – May 18, 2022
Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) state veterinarian’s office announced the first case of RHDV2 since the initial outbreak in the southwestern US in March 2020. The domestic rabbit, in King County, lived exclusively indoors Read more…