Deadly Virus Spreads to Endangered Rabbit Populations in California
Wildlife officers not long ago confirmed the existence of a deadly virus in California’s San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge. A riparian brush rabbit that was located lifeless inside of the refuge analyzed beneficial for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disorder Virus 2 (RHDV2) on Might 20, according to veterinary team with the California Division of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). The virus is identified to have an affect on both equally wild and domestic rabbit populations.
“This is a discovery we hoped would under no circumstances arise,” CDFW Senior Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Deana Clifford reported final week. “We are in the very early phases of comprehension the impacts to the species now that RHDV2 has arrived at the refuge.”
A group of partners, like CDFW, the College of California Davis, and the Oakland Zoo, has been vaccinating riparian brush rabbits in the region due to the fact late very last summer season. The group has correctly vaccinated 638 people today so considerably.
“This will be the accurate test of the performance of our vaccination efforts,” states Kim Forrest, USFWS San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complicated Supervisor.
California wildlife officers are now working with a French made RHDV2 vaccine that has established helpful in domestic populations. But previous slide, a lab in South Dakota created a new model of the vaccine, which was provided crisis use authorization by the United States Division of Agriculture. The Medgene Labs vaccine is at this time offered in 43 states, which include California.
Riparian brush rabbits are a species of cottontail that can only be observed in 3 California counties, including Stanislaus County, wherever the San Joaquin River NWR is located. Appropriately, the species is stated as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
While the lethal virus has only not long ago been detected in wild brush rabbits, quite a few outbreaks have transpired in the Southwest more than the previous few a long time.
The to start with reviews of the virus in the United States came from a inhabitants of domestic rabbits in New Mexico in early 2020. The virus has now reached 11 states, which include New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Colorado, in accordance to the USDA.
California’s initial situation of RHDV2 was confirmed in May well 2020, when officers detected the virus in a wild black-tailed jackrabbit that was gathered from a team of 10 useless rabbits in the vicinity of Palm Springs. Since then, the outbreak has attained domestic rabbit populations in at minimum 13 California counties. 9 counties, which includes Stanislaus County, have also confirmed the virus’ existence in wild rabbit populations.
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RHDV2 is a highly contagious sickness. Infection is fatal in most conditions, and quite a few infected rabbits have been observed dead with blood coming from their nose and mouth. Experts feel the virus can occur in any lagomorph species, which include rabbits, hares, jackrabbits, and pikas.
For California hunters focusing on cottontails, hares, and jackrabbits, CDFW officers recommend not hunting in areas that have not long ago documented RHDV2 outbreaks or look to include ill animals. Wildlife agencies also advise not taking in the meat of any rabbits that seem sick or contaminated.
Transmission of the virus can happen via speak to with contaminated people today, animals, or materials that come upon the contaminated rabbit. As a final result, officials advocate taking more safety measures when field-dressing rabbits, like cleansing all your gear, donning gloves, and burying stays deep plenty of to protect against scavenging.
The virus only infects rabbits and is not identified to impact individuals, livestock, or other animal species.
