Skip to main content
What is Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV)?

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) is a highly contagious and potentially deadly viral infection affecting rabbits and hares.

RHDV1 was first identified in the 1980’s in China and is now endemic in many countries among wild rabbits and hares.

The new strain of concern, RHDV2, was first identified in 2010 in France. This new strain differs from the original strain in that it is deadlier than RHDV1 and it affects both wild and domestic rabbits.

In 2018, RHDV2 was first confirmed in North America in British Columbia. On June 10, 2022, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported that there were two confirmed cases of RHDV2 in Lambton County near Sarnia, Ontario.  The CFIA confirmed on July 5, 2022 that there was one case of RHDV2 in Essex County near Windsor, Ontario. The CFIA says there were three other rabbits in the home who were placed under quarantine and who did not appear to be infected.

For more detailed information about RHDV2, please read the article titled Rabbit Hemorraghic Disease Virus (RHDV) in the Illustrated Articles section on our website. Further details are also available through the following web sites:

How Our Clinic Is Responding

We are pleased to announce that the RHDV vaccine is available at our clinic! Please call our clinic at 416-223-1165 or e-mail us at ExoticVetsToronto@gmail.com to book an appointment for your rabbit(s).

Important Things To Know!

  • Your rabbit(s) must be 10 weeks or older in order to receive the vaccine.
  • If your rabbit is currently not a patient at our clinic, please fill out a New Client Registration form with your new rabbit’s information, which is located on the home page of our website.
  • If your rabbit is a patient at our clinic but has NOT been examined by one of our veterinarians in the last year, a physical examination is required in order to administer the vaccine.
  • If your rabbit has been examined by one of our veterinarians in the last year and deemed healthy, your appointment will be booked with one of our technicians.
While we understand that our clients may have concerns about RHDV2, we would like to reassure you that it should not be cause for immediate alarm.
How to Keep Your Rabbit Safe
 
RHDV2 is highly contagious and can be spread among rabbits through direct contact with bodily fluids and droppings. It can also spread by fomite transmission, meaning it can live on objects and infect rabbits who have contact with affected surfaces such as cages, bedding, food and people’s clothing. It is also known to travel on the tires of vehicles that have driven through areas with infected rabbits.
 
Implementing proper biosecurity measures can help protect your rabbit. These include:
  • Keep your rabbits indoors and ensure they can’t come into contact with wild rabbits or their droppings
  • Limit contact between indoor pet rabbits from different households
  • Limit contact between your rabbits and people who are in contact with other rabbits
  • Prevent your rabbits from having contact with shoes and clothing worn outside and keep this clothing separate from those worn indoors.
  • Ensure your rabbit is protected from ticks and fleas with preventative medication.
Can RHDV infect humans and other animals?
No. RHDV1 and RHDV2 only affects rabbits and hares.