There is an outbreak of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) in the Western Cape and Northern Cape. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) became enlightened without receiving reports of die-offs of wild rabbits and hares in the Karoo areas.
RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE DETECTED IN KAROO
RHD is caused by the calicivirus and has never been detected in South Africa before. “The disease results in a upper number of deaths in rabbits and hares and animals die suddenly with gory in the organs such as the liver, kidney and spleen,” said DALLRD.
The department said it is unclear how the disease entered the country as the importation of rabbits and hares is prohibited. Illegal importation is stuff investigated as a potential source.
Provincial veterinary services, private vets and the forestry, fisheries and environment department conducted field investigations in the unauthentic areas.
Samples were placid from the rabbits at autopsy and tests were performed at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Laboratory, which confirmed RHD as the rationalization of death.
NO VACCINE IN SA
RHD is controlled in rabbitries mainly through vaccination. The vaccine is not misogynist in South Africa. The RHD vaccines misogynist in countries where the disease is theirs usually provide 12 months of protection.
The carcasses of rabbits that died of the disease could be a major source for the spread of the virus as RHD appears to be highly resistant and stable plane in harsh environmental conditions.
“This increases the importance of biosecurity measures in rabbitries and anywhere where rabbits or hares are kept,” said the department.
Rabbit owners are encouraged to alimony their animals secure and yonder from other rabbits or hares – directly and indirectly through people or equipment.
DALRRD said biosecurity measures are increasingly difficult to implement in the wild and stressed that the occurrence of RHD in the Karoo is of unconfined snooping as the zone is inhabited by the ethnic Red Rock rabbit, endangered Riverine rabbit and hare species, which are highly susceptible to the disease.
Members of the public are encouraged to report any sufferer or dying rabbits or hares to the nearest State veterinarian.
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