By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has received two new confirmations of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) in domestic rabbits in the past week.

Wild Rabbit
Image/Dtw2tv

The confirmations were reported on one Lubbock County premises and one Midland County premises.

To date, RHDV2 has been confirmed in domestic rabbits in the following Texas counties: El Paso, Hamilton, Hockley, Lampasas, Lubbock and Midland.

“The Commission would like to remind all rabbit owners and breeders to maintain robust biosecurity practices on their farms and in their homes,” said Dr. Andy Schwartz, State Veterinarian and TAHC Executive Director.

Texas veterinarians have succeeded in coming closer to securing the European RHDV2 vaccination in an effort to protect and prevent the spread of this foreign rabbit disease.

RHDV2 is a fatal, viral disease that affects both domestic and wild rabbits, including hares, jackrabbits and cottontails. It does not affect humans, or other animal species.

This highly contagious foreign animal disease spreads between rabbits through contact with infected rabbits or carcasses, their meat or fur, or contact with contaminated food, water, or materials. RHDV2 can persist in the environment for a very long time. These factors make disease control efforts extremely challenging once it is in the wild rabbit populations.

“The TAHC encourages rabbit owners to keep their rabbits secure at home and cease all unnecessary movement of rabbits to aid in preventing further exposure to or transmission of the virus,” said Dr. Susan Rollo, State Epidemiologist.