Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus–2 (RHDV2)
The FWC is monitoring for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) in Florida rabbits. Although RHDV2 was found in domestic rabbits on one farm in Lake County in December 2020, there has been no detection of RHDV2 in wild rabbit populations in Florida. RHDV2 is highly contagious and lethal to wild and domestic rabbits; however, this disease cannot be transferred to humans (it is non-zoonotic). RHDV2 is a reportable disease, and the FWC, USDA-Wildlife Services (USDA-WS), and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are monitoring for the possible introduction of this disease into Florida. Therefore, the FWC’s wildlife health experts are collaborating with other agencies to monitor for and respond to rabbit mortality events.
To assist in this effort, please report sick or dead wild rabbits to the FWC’s Wildlife Health Hotline (866-293-9282) which is monitored 7 days a week. If possible, please also email the information to the FWC-Wildlife Health email address at: WildlifeHealth@MyFWC.com (note this email is monitored only during business hours).
Reports of sick and dead domestic (pet) rabbits should be referred to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) by calling (850) 410-0900 (see website for further details).
FAQs
Yes, domestic and wild rabbits, hares, and picas (lagomorphs) are susceptible to RHDV2.
Despite ongoing monitoring and surveillance, the FWC and FDACS have found no evidence of wild rabbits being impacted in Florida.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are the lead on domestic rabbit health. They confirmed 2 positive rabbits on one premises in Lake County in December. All rabbits died and there are no longer domestic rabbits on the premises. No new cases have been documented since then. For more information, please visit: https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Animal-Industry
Humans cannot become infected with this virus. However, rabbits can carry other diseases infectious to humans. Because of the possibility of other diseases, and because RHDV2 can easily spread to domestic or wild rabbits, we ask that you do not handle or move dead wild rabbits.
FWC is working closely with FDACS and USDA-WS to monitor for and respond to reports of wild rabbit mortalities in Florida. We are also monitoring Lake County for spillover of the virus from domestic to wild rabbits. Despite monitoring and numerous investigations, the disease has not been detected in wild rabbits.
Report sick or dead wild rabbits to the FWC’s Wildlife Health Hotline (866-293-9282) which is monitored 7 days a week. If possible, please also email the information to the FWC-Wildlife Health email address at: WildlifeHealth@MyFWC.com (note this email is monitored only during business hours).
Reports of sick and dead domestic (pet) rabbits should be referred to the FDACS by calling (850) 410-0900 (see website for further details.)
Do not handle sick or dead rabbits; call experts to assist. A garbage can or bucket can be placed over the dead rabbit to protect it from scavengers until investigators can arrive.
As of August 2021, RHDV2 has caused mortalities in wild or feral rabbit populations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming as well as in Mexico. This is the first time that this extremely contagious and highly lethal virus has been found in wild rabbit populations in North America. RHDV2 was recently found in domestic rabbits at one facility in Florida and two in Georgia Previously, the virus had only been detected a few times in domestic rabbits in Canada and the United States (e.g., Ohio and Washington). RHDV2 was first detected in France in 2010.
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