It’s a virus for bunnies.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease — or RHDV2 — a highly contagious and fatal disease that affects rabbits has been detected in Utah, officials announced Wednesday.
A positive case was recently confirmed in a domestic rabbit in Sanpete County, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food said in a news release.
RHDV2 also affects wild rabbits but not people or other animals.
Utah rabbit owners can protect their pets by practicing good biosecurity, said Amanda Price, Utah’s assistant state veterinarian.
“Wash your hands and change your clothes before handling your rabbits if you have been around other rabbits or in areas with wild rabbits,” she said. “Keep your rabbits in hutches off the ground or inside if possible, and try to keep wild rabbits, rodents, and other animals away from your rabbits and their food.”
RHDV2 has been spreading across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico and typically kills 80% to 100% of animals that are infected, officials said in the statement. In most cases, there are no signs of the illness and the animal dies within six to 24 hours.
Rabbits may have a fever, nervous signs, difficulty breathing, and frothy blood coming from their noses just before death. There is no cure, and vaccines must be imported from Europe by a veterinarian.
The virus can survive in the environment for months and can be spread by contact with infected rabbits, objects, people, or even shoes that have been contaminated by rabbit feces.
A pet rabbit with a suspicious death should be taken to a veterinarian, and the death should be reported to the state veterinarian.
Wild rabbits that have died should be reported to the regional Division of Wildlife Resources office.
For more information about RHDV2, visit ag.utah.gov or bit.ly/UtahRHD.
