RHD2 Cases :-( Update January 2019

[MightyMax]

Reported today by RWAF on their own Facebook page:

CT10, Broadstairs, Kent

Message from a veterinary practice.
Last week they saw 2 linked cases from same household and 1 separate case of suspected RVHD.

[MightyMax]

Reported today by RWAF on their own Facebook page:

Bruton, Somerset, BA10.

Forwarded by BRC who have been contacted by a vet.

CONFIRMED RVD2 in a pet rabbit

[MightyMax]

Thank you MM for your brilliant information, that is really helpful. It's a pity that you appear to be being picked on for providing such high quality information instead of being thanked, and that the subject has been repeated elsewhere for some bizarre reason when your thread is so well-informed. I understand why some may wish for you to clarify where you receive your info (which you have done) but there's ways and means of doing it - and I read what you wrote before as a quote from someone else via another source rather than you receiving the information yourself, as it was within quotation marks within your text so quite obvious I would have thought really that it wasn't you yourself saying it, but hey ho, people will read what they want to ...

It is rather scary how RVHD2 is spread and I just hope that the vaccinations work, because I'm aware that even rabbits who are vaccinated against myxi can still get it (and die, sadly).

We have wild rabbits by us but as far as I know the RVHD2 isn't too close as yet. Last year it was only about 50 miles away which of course isn't too far, but with the bad winter in March I'm hoping it's even further away! I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread for your very helpful updates, MM .

Hi Angie

Thank you, it's good of you to say so

A lot of work goes into this thread but I am pleased to do it!

I have tried to supply as much information about each case I have reported as possible.
Anyone is always welcome to ask questions or post on this thread. Or indeed contact me privately if that's preferable

The more people that vaccinate, the more we might together begin to wipe out this epidemic

[MightyMax]

It's okay, the link's working now - I wasn't logged into Facebook so it wasn't before .

Good, I am glad the links are working

[MightyMax]

Source: https://m.facebook.com/groups/1744958082388756

Posted within the last hour

Helston Cornwall.

Confirmed case of RHD2.

"First rabbit lost was vaccinated three days prior to loss.
Other losses haven't been vaccinated due to age.

Most of her rabbits have been vaccinated, however, have advised to revaccinate if close to 6 months since last done.
She also took steps and went into shutdown after first loss and will continue for minimum four months following last loss.

Pet breeder, having emailed BRC to inform"

[MightyMax]

Reported in the last day via the VHD map
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/...26%20vhd%20map


Suspected RHD2 in Rawtenstall, Lancashire.

Two pet bunnies which I bred 7 months ago.
Doe passed with no signs of illness and 3days later the boy passed showing slight discard from his nose.
Vaccinated for myxi and rhd1, vets said possibly pneumonia 🙁 advised them to have a PM and cremate.

[MightyMax]

For any RU members in the States:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_he...une%202018.pdf

[MightyMax]

Within the last hour: Potton in Beds:

Message from a Member of the VHD Map:
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/...26%20vhd%20map

Also posted on the RHD Facebook page as stated below:

"I have posted on the RHD Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/…/174495808...0730831811481/

99.9% certain my rabbit died of RHD2 on initial post mortem Potton, Beds. Blood in lungs and abdomen. Specimens have gone to the lab but vet feels it is 99.9% certain to be RHD.

I adopted from an RSPCA centre that does not vaccinate for RHD2 on 10th Sept, took her for RHD2 with Filovac on 11th Sept, she was dead on 16th in the morning. As I am sure people know Filovac takes 7 days for immunity to develop. She was on day 5-6.

I have contacted the RSPCA centre and they have had no rabbit deaths so I guess she must have contracted it here based on the timelines. She was undergoing bonding with one of my males. All my buns are vaccinated for RHD2 every 6 months. So anxious about my other buns now who live on my farm whilst we play the waiting game to see if they have contracted it, especially her new mate. If I did not have bad luck I would have no luck at all".

[MightyMax]

Given the awful circumstances in the post above, I think we could do as the poster suggests and lobby the R.S.P.C.A. Head Office to make vaccination for RHD2 mandatory national policy. Some branches do indeed vaccinate for RHD2 but others do not.

[MightyMax]

Clarification from the RWAF - available to see on their Facebook Page:

Here at the RWAF we are aware of 3 significant fatal viral diseases of rabbits in the UK. Myxomatosis (covered by the vaccine Nobivac Myxo-RHD); Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease 1 (covered by Nobivac Myxo-RHD), and Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease 2 (covered by the vaccines Filavac KC and V, or Eravac).

We are not aware of any further versions of RVHD present in the UK, although the variant K5 has been discovered in Asia and Australasia.
We are not aware of any viral infections that are acutely fatal to rabbits and rodents recently arriving in the UK.

If anyone has documentary evidence of any exotic diseases arriving in the UK in future please inform us and the Animal Plant and Health Agency.
Richard Saunders BSc(Hons) BVSc MSB CBiol DZooMed (Mammalian) MRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Zoo And Wild Animal Medicine