Current Disease Event Information:
Updated February 13, 2024
State-Level Map (RHDV2.org)
County-Level Map (RHDV2.org)
Source: https://rhdv2.org/maps/
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV2) News Timeline:
July 2023: RHDV2 Spread Appears to Be Slowing in U.S.
March 2022: Additional wild cases confirmed in Oregon and Colorado.
January 28, 2022: State Vet confirms RHDV2 in two domestic rabbits in one eastern Tennessee location https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/news/2022/1/28/rabbit-disease-confirmed-in-tennessee.html
January 5, 2022: More detections of RHDV2 in wild rabbits have been confirmed by the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory including in a black-tailed jackrabbit recovered from Crook County, Oregon.
December 31, 2021: New Detection of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease in Northern California. RHDV2 was detected this in a wild jackrabbit which died in San Benito County. This is the first detection in California since August 2021.
December 20, 2021: RHDV2 confirmed in pet rabbits in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
December 15, 2021: RHDV2 confirmed in a domestic rabbit in Montgomery county, New York. This is the first report of RHDV2 in the northeast U.S. during the current outbreak.
October 19, 2021: Domestic rabbit in St. Johns County, Florida tests positive for RHDV2 (second confirmed case of RHDV2 in domestic rabbits in the state).
September 28, 2021: RHDV2 confirmed in pet rabbits in Ramsey county, Minnesota
September 15, 2021: RHDV2 confirmed in a domestic rabbit in Rankin County, Mississippi.
July 2021: Latest USDA APHIS RHDV2 Case Map, Wild/Feral and Domestic Rabbits: March 2020- June 2021
June 23, 2021: The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Animal Industry Division has confirmed RHDV2 in domestic rabbits at a single Cobb County premise. The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the virus and there are currently no other confirmed or suspect cases in Georgia.
June 15, 2021: Oregon Dept of Fish & Wildlife confirms RHDV2 in a wild jackrabbit near Christmas Valley. RHDV2 was first detected in Oregon in domestic rabbits in March 2021.
May 21, 2021: According to a news release from the State Veterinarian, RHDV2 has been confirmed in a domestic rabbit in Custer County, South Dakota. It is the first confirmed case of RHDV2 in rabbits in South Dakota, no cases in wild rabbits have yet been reported.
March 26, 2021: The Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Idaho State Department of Agriculture announced the confirmation of RHDV2 in two wild jackrabbits located southwest of the Boise Airport in Ada County. This is first case of RHD identified in wild or domestic rabbits in Idaho.
March 12, 2021: RHDV2 confirmed in a wild cottontail in Yellowstone County, Montana
March 1, 2021: The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Health Laboratory is now equipped to perform a rapid DNA test that reveals the presence of RHDV2 in tissue samples.
February 27, 2021: RHDV2 continues spreading in Wyoming, with at least 11 cases in wild rabbits identified in Albany and Laramie counties
February 9, 2021: RHDV2 confirmed in 4 feral domestic rabbits in Yellowstone County, Montana.
December 31, 2020: RHDV2 confirmed in captive rabbits in a backyard facility in Florida. This is the first report of RHDV2 in Florida- it has not yet been conformed in wild rabbits.
December 17, 2020: RHDV2 has been confirmed in a wild Eastern cottontail rabbit in Wyoming, marking the first confirmation of RHDV2 in Wyoming. Read more info on the WY Game & Fish Department website.
October 07, 2020: University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources/Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) are offering two new positions studying human dimensions of RHDV2: A Post-Doc Position and a Research Associate Position.
September 29, 2020: A mortality event involving wild eastern cottontail rabbits in Barnstable, MA has been reported on the WHISPers platform. Update: Final Diagnosis is now listed as “emaciation.”
August 31, 2020: An Update on National Wildlife Health Center Support to Wildlife Managers and Response to Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2
August 12, 2020: Additional case of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) confirmed in wild rabbits in San Juan county, Utah
July 21, 2020: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) confirmed in wild rabbits in Utah
July 15, 2020: JAVMA News Article: Virus killing rabbits in Western U.S.
July 9, 2020: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) confirmed in a wild cottontail rabbit in Larimer County, northern Colorado (near Wyoming border).
July 2, 2020: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) confirmed in a domestic rabbit in Utah.
June 27, 2020: Two cases of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) confirmed in Nevada.
May 26, 2020: A mortality event involving 4 jackrabbits/hares in Montana was reported on WHISPers and submitted to the NWHC, but final diagnosis was listed as “undetermined.”
May 13, 2020: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has diagnosed Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease in a black-tailed jackrabbit carcass submitted from private property near Palm Springs in early May, confirming the presence of RHDV2 in California for the first time.
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus is a highly contagious and fatal disease of wild and domestic rabbits. This disease is caused by several virus strains, including Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Serotype 2 (RHDV2). RHDV2 is considered a foreign animal disease. The first detection of RHDV2 in North America was on Delta and Vancouver Island, Canada in feral rabbits in February 2018.
As of April 2022, RHDV2 has been confirmed in wild rabbits in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Oregon. To date, rabbit mortality events reported by state natural resource agencies have varied from two to >1000 dead rabbits. Affected species include black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus), desert cottontails (Sylvilagus audubonii), mountain cottontails (Sylvilagus nuttallii), antelope jackrabbit (Lepus alleni), and eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus).
Clinical signs of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus
Often the only signs of the disease are sudden death and blood staining around the nose or epistaxis, caused by internal bleeding. Other clinical signs may include fever, anorexia, or respiratory/nervous signs. Many of the rabbits recently confirmed with RHDV2 in the U.S. have shown no clinical signs other than sudden death.
Transmission
RHDV2 can be spread through direct contact with infected rabbits, or exposure to infected bodily fluids. The virus can also survive and spread on carcasses, food, water, and other contaminated materials. Scavengers and birds may play a role in transmission of the RHD virus.
Current Distribution of Confirmed RHDV2 Cases in Wild Rabbits in the U.S.
Source: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/maps/animal-health/rhd
Zoonotic Potential/One Health Aspects
RHDV2 is not infectious to people or domestic animals other than rabbits. However, it should be noted that multiple dead or sick rabbits can also be a sign of potentially zoonotic diseases such as tularemia and plague. Thus, caution and appropriate biosecurity/personal protective equipment should be used, and the general public and domestic animals should never touch or consume sick or dead rabbits.
Guidance For Wildlife Rehabilitators
From Cornell Wildlife Health Lab:
- Do not rehabilitate wild rabbits if you keep or accept domestic rabbits. RHDV2 can be spread by handling infected rabbits, cages or bedding then later handling uninfected rabbits.
- RHDV2 is resistant to many common disinfectants, freshly prepared 10% household bleach solution is the most readily available disinfectant that is effective for inactivating RHDV2.
- Do not allow people who keep domestic rabbits to have any contact with your wild cottontail rabbits.
- Please report unusual rabbit mortalities to your state wildlife agency. Place carcasses in plastic bag and keep in a cool place as they may be necessary for testing.
More Information & Resources:
For up-to-date information on the location, number, and species affected by the on-going RHDV2 events in wild rabbits, please visit the Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership-event reporting system (WHISPers) and USDA-APHIS: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/maps/animal-health/rhd
USDA APHIS RHDV2 Notice- July 2020
Latest NWHC Bulletin on Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus
