RHDV2 - Critical Information & FAQ's [2/5/2021]
Written by Rabbit Hole Hay
With outbreaks of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV2) in New York City, Washington, Florida, Ohio, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, California, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, and Montana our team at Rabbit Hole Hay has received multiple phone calls and email questions about any precautions we are taking and where we source our hay.
Before we go any farther, we want to let our customers know we are in close contact with the California Department of Fish and Game (the agency that is monitoring RHDV2 in California) and to date there have been NO reported cases of RHDV2 in the Northern California areas where we source our hay and where our warehouse is located.
As of right now, all Rabbit Hole Hay product currently in the marketplace (whether on our website, Amazon, Chewy, or another third-party seller) is from our Northern California 2020 growing season.
With outbreaks of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV2) in New York City, Washington, Florida, Ohio, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, California, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, and Montana our team at Rabbit Hole Hay has received multiple phone calls and email questions about any precautions we are taking and where we source our hay.
Before we go any farther, we want to let our customers know we are in close contact with the California Department of Fish and Game (the agency that is monitoring RHDV2 in California) and to date there have been NO reported cases of RHDV2 in the Northern California areas where we source our hay and where our warehouse is located.
As of right now, all Rabbit Hole Hay product currently in the marketplace (whether on our website, Amazon, Chewy, or another third-party seller) is from our Northern California 2020 growing season.
As you will discover in the article below, the USDA estimates the virus can remain stable for up to 3 months. Taking into account the dates of the recently confirmed cases and dates of harvest, along with the location of the harvest, we can safely reassure you that no Rabbit Hole Hay product that is available is currently at risk for being a carrier of RHDV2. Even with that being said, all of the hay that is currently available has been being held indoors for more than 3 months making our hay very safe.
At Rabbit Hole Hay, we are monitoring RHDV2 closely and want to provide you both assurance that our product is safe for your rabbits, as well as provide answers to some of your questions. Additionally, you will find links throughout this article that will give you great resources to learn more about RHDV2 and how you can protect your small pet.
What is RHDV?
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV) is a highly contagious and fatal disease that is caused by a calicivirus and, as the name suggests, affects rabbits. Originally RHDV was known as a foreign animal disease found in wild European rabbits.
RHDV was first seen in 1984 in China and since then there has been confirmed cases in 40 other countries. RHDV2, the second strain, started in 2010 in France and quickly spread through Europe along with the Mediterranean, replacing the original strain in many countries.
House Rabbit Society states that RHDV causes necrotizing hepatitis and may cause necrosis of the spleen. There may be internal or externally visible blood hemorrhage. Death occurs from liver failure or hemorrhage due to an impairment in the blood’s ability to clot.
Prior to 2018 RHDV had never been seen in North American native rabbits or hares, but there have now been confirmed cases in the United States. While there had been isolated cases starting in 2018, this more recent outbreak is more widespread, causing concern for both veterinarians as well as pet owners. This outbreak has seen cases that have ended in death in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming (known as the 2020-2021 Southwest outbreaks). It’s important to note that the 2020-2021 Southwest outbreaks have been found to be a single genetic isolate, distinct from previous outbreaks in Ohio, New York City and Washington/British Columbia.
The first California case was reported in May of 2020 in Palm Springs (Riverside county), where a jackrabbit died from RHDV2 according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Since May, there have been several more cases of both wild and domestic rabbit deaths within the counties of San Bernardino, San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, and Kern being the newest county to report deaths in January of 2021 (all counties listed above are located in Southern California). California has since executed a quarantine on rabbits entering the state, forbidding rabbits to enter from any state that has been diagnosed with RHDV in the last 12 months. The only exception is if they have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. For more on what the California Department of Food & Agriculture is doing, read their FAQ here.
Below you'll find a map of the counties that have been affected by RHDV2 as of February 3rd, 2021. You'll also find that we highlighted the cases located in Southern California in the counties of Riverside (Palm Springs), Los Angles, San Bernardino, Kern, Orange, and San Diego. We have also highlighted where our hay is grown at the very top of Northern California. We wanted you to be able to see the physical distance between the two.
RHDV2 Map of Affect Counties
(Wild Rabbit Cases Only)
RHDV2 Map of Affect Counties
(Domestic Rabbit Cases Only)
2021 RHDV Affected Counties Map Key
Counties filled with a redish color = wild rabbit case(s) from Apr 2020 - Jan 2021
-
Indian Red = 6 - 7 cases
-
Light Coral = 3 - 5 cases
-
Bisque = 2 cases
Counties filled with a grayish color = domestic rabbit case(s) from Mar 2020 - Nov 2021
- Slate Gray = 8 - 13 cases
-
Dark Gray = 3 - 7 cases
- Light Gray= 1 - 2 cases
Red Outline = RHDV2 Stable / Endemic Area
Blue Outline = Counties with domestic and/or wild case(s)
Dark Blue Dash/Dot Line = International Boundary
What’s the Difference Between RHDV1 and RHDV2?
As stated above, RHDV1 has been around since the 1980s but wasn’t identified in the U.S. until the 2000s only infecting wild rabbits. RHDV2 appeared in France in 2010 and was confirmed in North America in 2018. The biggest difference between the two is that RHDV2 has been confirmed to infect both wild AND domesticated rabbits in North America.
RHDV1 Facts:
- Incubation period: 2-10 Days
- Death Rate is high for rabbits exposed (40-100%)
RHVD2 Facts:
- Incubation period: 3-9 Days
- Death rate is high for rabbits exposed (5-70%)
Rabbits who are exposed and survive, are carriers and can spread the virus for a minimum of 42 days, if not longer. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has provided a quick fact sheet about RHDV that you can download for reference.
How Does RHDV2 Spread?
The USDA states that the RHDV2 virus is very resistant to extreme temperatures, it can be spread through direct contact or exposure to an infected rabbit’s excretions or blood. The virus can also survive and spread from carcasses, food, water, and any contaminated materials. While it does not impact human health, humans can spread the virus indirectly by carrying it on their clothing and shoes.
What are the Symptoms to Look For?
According to House Rabbit Society, rabbits can contract the virus and not show any symptoms whatsoever. But with those that do show symptoms, they may include:
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- High fever
- Seizures
- Bleeding from nose, mouth, or rectum
- Difficulty breathing
- Sudden death
Sadly, this virus is known as a swift and sudden killer with little to no warning. If your rabbit’s sudden death is suspicious, please report it to your veterinarian as a possible case of RHDV2.
Is there a RHDV2 Vaccine?
Vaccines for RHDV2 are generally available in countries where the disease is regularly found (called endemic).
There is a vaccine for RHDV2 in Europe as the disease has been regularly found there for a longer period of time. As of right now, there is no vaccine currently widely available to vets in the United States or Canada.
Yet, in 2020 some rabbit-savvy veterinarians in the states affected by the Southwest outbreak started importing vaccines for their rabbit patients. Please contact your vet to ask about the vaccination if you live in an outbreak state.
According to the House Rabbit Society, if you are a veterinarian seeking to import a vaccine in an area with an RHDV outbreak you must have a USDA-accredited vet reach out to their State Veterinarian. With that being said, State Veterinarians/USDA are requiring a documented case of RHDV in their state before approving special import permits for the vaccine.
It's important that you consult your veterinarian and discuss if using the vaccine is the right decision for your pet(s).
How Long can RHDV2 Survive in the Environment?
While the statements on how long it can stay within the environment are mixed, the USDA states, “The virus can remain stable for 3 months when dried, but exposed RHDV typically doesn’t persist in excretions on surroundings longer than a few weeks and grows less viable over time.”
Should I Be Worried that the Hay I Purchase Could Give My Rabbit RHDV2?
The risk is very low of your rabbits contracting the RHDV2 from the hay you purchase from a trusted producer.
While RHDV2 can be transmitted via non-living objects (known as fomite) like hay, it would require a combination of unique events to occur for hay to become a carrier. This includes an infected animal traveling through the hay field during a time when specific environmental conditions are in place which supported the stability of the virus.
It is also important to note that when you purchase from a trusted manufacturer, there are quality and safety measures in place that will help mitigate the risk of transmission.
How Can I Protect My Rabbit?
- Keep your rabbit’s cage or hutch indoors, decreasing the risk of them coming into contact with something outdoors.
- If you can’t keep your rabbit’s hutch or cage indoors, invest in protective fencing and continue to monitor them for any disturbances.
- When it comes to the inside and outside of your rabbit’s cage or hutch, practice good cleaning and sanitation measures.
- Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before handling your rabbits.
- Immediately after handling or coming in contact with other rabbits, change your clothes and wash your hands.
- Refrain from having bunny time with other rabbits, this will keep your rabbit safe from the possibility of coming into to physical contact with other rabbits.
- Don’t touch any dead wild rabbits that you may see in your local area. If you see multiple dead rabbits, report it to your state wildlife officials.
- If you volunteer at a shelter in an area with an outbreak, have special clothes and shoes you wear only when working at the shelter.
- Consider adopting a “no shoes” in the house policy.
For safe directions on how to disinfect shoes with a disinfectant effective for this virus, click here.
What is Rabbit Hole Hay Doing to Ensure Your Small Pets Safety?
At Rabbit Hole Hay, we are monitoring this virus closely and at this time it has NOT affected our area of the country (Northern California). While all our hay is now from the 2020 growing season from Northern California, there have been NO reported cases affecting the area of the country where we source our hay.
As mentioned above, the USDA estimates that RHDV2 can remain stable for 3 months. Taking into account the dates of the recently confirmed cases and dates of harvest, we can safely reassure you that no Rabbit Hole Hay product that is available (whether on our website, Amazon, Chewy, or by third-party seller) is currently at risk for being a carrier of RHDV2.
Our goal here at Rabbit Hole Hay is to continue to monitor the information coming from health officials carefully to ensure we are following any recommended precautions to keep your small pet safe. We are confident at this time based on the latest available information that the transmission of RHDV2 from a packaged product like our Rabbit Hole Hay, is highly unlikely. While RHDV2 could be transmitted in hay, it would require a rare combination of circumstances for the virus to be present and remain stable.
Even knowing that, we are committed to remaining vigilant both in how we monitor and how we move forward with product safety as it relates to RHDV2. We will be paying close attention to all the hay we source in the coming days and months to ensure it is processed in a way that helps us keep your small pets safe.
