RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE RHDV.
Safeguarding Your Rabbit from Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV2)
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV2) is a highly contagious and frequently fatal disease affecting wild and domestic rabbits, caused by a calicivirus. This disease poses no risk to humans or other animals. Since early 2020, RHDV2 has been responsible for numerous rabbit and hare deaths across North America, particularly in Western states, where it continues to spread rapidly.
3/18/24 UPDATE: Recent discoveries of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease have been reported in California. The disease has been found in domestic and/or wild rabbits across twenty-six counties in the state, where it is now deemed endemic. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is responding with minimal regulatory measures.
SACRAMENTO, March 18, 2024 – On February 23, 2024, RHDV was identified in domestic rabbits in San Mateo County and in a wild black-tailed jackrabbit in Butte County. Prior to this, it was confirmed in a domestic rabbit on February 28, 2023.
In the initial two months of 2023, fresh confirmations of RHDV2 have emerged in wild rabbits across California, Texas, and Wyoming, with the disease extending into previously unaffected counties. Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease is now regarded as endemic throughout most Western US states and has also resulted in fatalities among domestic rabbits in various Eastern states, as documented on https://rhdv2.org/maps/.
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In California alone, RHDV2 has been identified in either domestic or wild rabbits across twenty-four counties, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) acknowledges the disease as endemic within these regions, though it is implementing only minimal regulatory measures.
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The spread of RHDV2 persists in Northern California, with recent findings in wild jackrabbits in counties including Santa Clara, Sacramento, Glenn, Colusa, and Napa. Since October 2022, the CDFA has verified instances of rabbit hemorrhagic disease in wild or domestic rabbits in counties such as Alameda, Colusa, Glenn, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Solano, and Yolo, according to https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/Animal_Health/RHD.html.
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Although the latest confirmed cases in San Diego and Los Angeles Counties date back to June 2022, there is strong evidence suggesting that the disease remains prevalent in these areas. Beyond its presence in wild cottontail rabbits and jackrabbits, RHDV2 has also been confirmed in domestic rabbits on 64 properties in California, alongside two instances in feral domestic rabbits in Alameda and Ventura Counties.
Even if your rabbit remains indoors, it is still susceptible to RHDV infection. Although RHDV exclusively impacts rabbits, the virus can be passed to them by humans or other animals via contact with contaminated objects, creatures, insects, or the droppings of predators carrying the disease.
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Here is the latest map available, illustrating the extent of the disease's spread.
Map Data Last Updated – August 1st, 2024
County-Level Map
Map Data Last Updated – August 1st, 2024
State-Level Map
DISEASE PROGRESSION VIDEO
SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE
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Loss of appetite
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Lethargy
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High fever
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Seizures
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Jaundice
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Bleeding from nose, mouth, or rectum
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Difficulty breathing
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Sudden death (most common presentation)
The CDFA advises rabbit owners to avoid interactions between their rabbits and wild rabbits or jackrabbits, and, where feasible, to house domestic rabbits indoors in regions where the disease is known to be present. Owners are further encouraged to vaccinate their pet rabbits and implement biosecurity measures to avoid unintentionally transmitting the RHDV2 virus to their animals.
OTHER WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RABBITS
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Vaccinate your rabbit against RHDV2 on a yearly basis
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Keep your rabbit indoors, this means no outdoor playtime or living outdoors.
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Do not let your rabbit come into physical contact with other rabbits from outside your home.
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Wash your hands before and after handling your rabbit.
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Change your clothes if you have come in contact with other rabbits.
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Disinfect shoes and other objects that may be contaminated.
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Quarantine any new rabbit in the home for at least 18 days.
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Use rabbit safe monthly flea treatments (as prescribed by your veterinarian only) for rabbits, cats and dogs.
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Contact your veterinarian if your rabbit becomes sick.
Any abrupt death of a rabbit should be considered suspicious and promptly reported to a veterinarian. The public is requested to contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at (916) 358-2790 if they observe deceased wild rabbits, and to refrain from touching them or submit a report via the CDFW website.
MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS FOR RABBITS AND HARES ENTERING CALIFORNIA
In response to the continuing outbreak of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) across the U.S., California has established a statewide quarantine, imposing movement restrictions on rabbits and hares entering the state.
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No rabbits, hares, or their products (such as meat, pelts, hides, carcasses, etc.), along with equipment or other related items or materials, may enter California from states or countries where Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) has been identified within the past 12 months unless they comply with the following conditions.
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All live rabbits and hares must have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) and be examined by an accredited veterinarian within 72 hours before being shipped to California. The CVI must contain a statement from the accredited veterinarian confirming that:
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All rabbits and hares in the shipment have been inspected and found free of contagious diseases, and
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All rabbits and hares come from a single location showing no evidence of a contagious disease, and
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No rabbits or hares have been introduced to the premises in the previous 30 days, and
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The animals have had no interaction with wild rabbits or hares in the past 30 days.​
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No rabbits, hares, or their products (including meat, pelts, hides, carcasses, etc.), as well as equipment or other items or associated materials, may enter California from any premises known to be impacted by RHD.
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Medgene Labs (Brookings, SD) has been granted Emergency Use Authorization by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) for their experimental vaccine aimed at preventing Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus serotype 2 (RHDV2). This new vaccine, a killed recombinant type, is approved as a two-dose regimen, with the second dose administered 21 days following the initial one. Since October 2021, Medgene Labs has supplied the vaccine to licensed veterinarians in California. Rabbit owners interested in vaccinating against RHD should reach out to their private veterinarian.
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For additional details about RHDV2, please visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/Animal_Health/RHD.html.
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To locate clinics offering the RHDV2 vaccine, click here.
RHDV2 VACCINATION INFORMATION
Immunizing your rabbit against RHDV2 and ensuring they receive the advised annual booster is the best method to safeguard them from RHD. Several vaccines have been created globally to prevent RHDV2 infection and mortality, but the one your vet will administer is the two-dose RHDV2 vaccine from Medgene, which has been utilized under emergency use authorization since October 2021. This vaccine marks the first of its kind developed and produced in the U.S., having been given to tens of thousands of rabbits.
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​It’s crucial to follow through with all prescribed doses within the specified timeline to ensure your rabbit’s protection, as well as to keep up with the recommended boosters. Your vet will discuss any potential side effects associated with the vaccine options available. Alongside vaccination, the most effective way to shield your rabbit is to keep them indoors (without outdoor exposure) in a secure, hygienic setting.
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As with any approved or authorized vaccine, the RHDV2 vaccine options are considered highly effective and safe. However, like other vaccines, they may not provide complete protection in every instance, so implementing biosecurity practices at home is recommended for added safety and reassurance.
OTHER RECOMMENDED RHDV2 BEST PRACTICES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
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Wash your hands before and after handling rabbits, other animals, or their food and water bowls.
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Leave your shoes outside or in the garage and do not track the virus inside.
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Change your clothes when you get home before approaching your rabbit.
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Disinfect items that may be contaminated, including clothes, with a disinfectant that kills RHDV2 (we recommend Rescue).
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Do not feed your rabbit foraged greens. Rinse all greens thoroughly for two minutes.
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If you have dogs or cats, wash their paws after being outdoors.
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Use a monthly flea treatment formulated for rabbits.
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Quarantine new rabbits for at least 18 days.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease poses a significant threat, and safeguarding your rabbit requires dedication. The most effective way to maintain these biosecurity practices is to weave them into your daily habits. Simple strategies can conserve time and effort, such as washing your rabbit’s greens right after shopping or placing a shoe bin and slippers by the entrance. We also suggest checking the most recent RHDV2 updates and guidance from your state veterinarian’s office.