What is RHDV?

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus is a highly infectious and lethal virus that only infects lagomorphs, including rabbits and hares. RHD is most commonly found in European countries but is now starting to be seen more in North and South America. RHD is a serious and extremely contagious disease with a very high mortality rate. 

What’s the difference between RHDV and RHDV2?

RHDV was first identified in the 1980s and was identified in the US in 2000. RHDV2 first emerged in France in 2010 and was first confirmed in North America in the Vancouver area in 2018. The most important difference between the two viruses is that, unlike RHDV1, RHDV2 has been confirmed to affect both domesticated rabbits AND our wild populations of North American rabbits (e.g. cottontails and jackrabbits). 

Can the disease be passed onto humans or other pets?

RHDV does not infect humans, livestock or pets.

How is it transmitted?

RHDV2 can be spread through direct contact with an infected rabbit or their bodily fluids, urine, fur or excrement. It can also be spread by infected objects, like food, bedding, water and cages. If someone is in contact with an infected rabbit, they can spread the virus on their hands, clothing and footwear. The virus can be spread by car tires after travelling through an area where infected rabbits have been. 

The virus is very resistant in the environment and can survive extreme temperatures, including freezing, and it can remain in the environment for 3 months or more, surviving on contaminated objects and rabbit products such as caging, bedding material, food, wool, clothing, and shoes. Rabbits that survive the virus can shed it for 30 days or more.

What are the symptoms?

After being exposed to the virus, rabbits usually become sick within 1-5 days. Death is common after a short period of illness. Death may also occur suddenly without signs. 

Common symptoms include:

·        fever

·        depression

·        loss of appetite

·        shortness of breath

·        groaning

·        blood spots in the eyes

·        frothy and bloody discharge from the nose

·        neurological signs, including difficulty walking, paddling of the legs, seizures and paralysis

Chronic cases are less common. Typical signs are poor appetite, weight loss, jaundice (yellowish colour of the skin), diarrhea, bloating of the abdomen and eventually death due to liver disease.

What should I do if I suspect my rabbit has RHDV2?

If you notice your rabbit showing potential signs or symptoms of RHDV2, contact your veterinarian right away. RHD kills quickly, giving little warning, and rabbits often die without showing any symptoms. Any sudden death, especially in an otherwise healthy rabbit, is suspicious and should be reported to your veterinarian as a possible case of RHD.

How many rabbits die from RHDV?

The death rate for RHDV1 is between 40-100%, and for RHDV2 between 5-70%, but can be upwards of 80% in some cases. Rabbits who survive may shed the virus and be infectious to other rabbits for at least 42 days, perhaps longer. In the 2020 Southwest US and Mexico RHDV2 outbreak, officials report a death rate of about 90% which has been attributed to the population’s lack of previous exposure to RHDV2.

Is there a cure?

There is no treatment or cure for the disease. There are vaccines manufactured in France, Spain and the United States to help protect rabbits against the virus, but they can only be imported into Canada under an emergency order from veterinary clinics, which has to be approved by the government. You can reach out to your vet for more information.

How can I keep my rabbit safe?

There are measures all rabbit owners should take to keep their rabbits safe from RHDV2. These include:

• Wash your hands with disinfecting soap and water before and after interacting with your rabbits.

• Ensure that everyone who visits your rabbits washes their hands thoroughly before touching your rabbits and wears protective clothing such as coveralls, shoes covers, hair covers and gloves.

• If you bring new rabbits into your home, quarantine them away from your existing rabbits (preferably on a separate floor of the house) for at least 14 days.

• Practice good cleaning and sanitation measures in and around your rabbit’s habitat.

• Disinfect any used or borrowed equipment by thoroughly scrubbing with a 10% bleach and water solution (1 part bleach, 9 parts water), leaving it to soak for at least 10 minutes before rinsing and letting dry.

• Avoid bringing your rabbit outside.

• Eliminate possible contact with wild rabbits such as cottontails or jackrabbits through monitoring and the use of protective fencing, xpens, etc.

• Avoid social gatherings such as “hoppy hours” or “speed dating” that involve your animals coming into contact with other rabbits.

• Pay close attention to your rabbit and contact your veterinarian right away if you notice any potential symptoms.

• Do not touch any dead wild rabbits you may encounter in your local area.

For more information on quarantine and safety measures, go to http://rabbitrescue.ca/rhdv.

What other steps can I take to prevent disease spread?

• If you own domestic rabbits, do not release them into the wild. If your rabbits appear ill or die suddenly, contact your veterinarian.

• The virus is hardy and you need to be careful about how you dispose of a rabbit that has died. A carcass could be a means of spread of the virus. Contact your veterinarian or federal animal health officials for guidance.

• If you volunteer at animal shelters or wildlife rescue facilities, be aware that this disease has been found in wild rabbits. If rabbits appear ill or die suddenly, contact the facility’s veterinarian.

How can I prevent my dog from carrying RHDV into the house?

Animals that have exposure to the outdoors can potentially come into contact with RHDV and bring it into the home. Until the vaccine is available, reducing potential contamination risks is the best option, including avoiding going to parks/trails where wild rabbits live, having your dog wear non-porous feet coverings on walks that are removed before returning home, etc. Alternatively, keeping your rabbit(s) quarantined to a specific room or rooms until a vaccine is available is another option in mixed animal homes. 

Where have cases of RHDV2 been confirmed in North America?

• Delta and Vancouver Island, Canada – February 2018

• Ohio – September 2018

• Orcas Island, Washington – 2019

• Pennsylvania - 2019

• California, Nevada, Colorado, New York City, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas – 2020

• Ontario, Canada - June 2022

Sources and Further Reading:

Government of Canada - Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) fact sheet

General Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection RHDV Contaminated Premises

Oxbow Animal Health - Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV2) Important Information

House Rabbit Society - What is Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease?

USDA Factsheet - Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease

Rabbit Rescue Inc - RHDV

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease in Ontario, Canada