As you are probably aware, there is a new variant of Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease 2 (RVHD2), which is going to the UK very soon and may well already be here. It is known as “highly virulent” RVHD2.
No vaccines currently available in the UK have been shown to offer full protection against this strain. A vaccine covering this “highly virulent” strain will be available to your vet from early December 2024, but until then, all we can advise is keeping your rabbit’s current vaccines up to date and carrying out strict biosecurity measures.
If your rabbits are not vaccinated, or their vaccines are overdue (i.e. they last had them over a year ago), then please get them vaccinated as soon as possible. This will offer them the absolute best protection possible against RVHD2 at this stage, and we are still seeing myxomatosis, even in November, due to the warm, wet conditions so far.
If your rabbits’ ‘triple vaccines’ fall due soon, don’t delay or change that. It’s not worth waiting until your veterinary practice gets the new vaccine in. Different practices will have different vaccine protocols, and regimes should be tailored to the situation each individual rabbit is in. Discuss this with your vet. All standard rabbit vaccine protocols will still involve giving the currently available multi-disease vaccine in any case. But, to be clear, we are now recommending that all rabbits have two vaccines a year
1 – ‘Triple’ vaccine to cover Myxi, RVHD1 and RVHD2
2 – New vaccine to cover RVHD2 highly virulent strain
These vaccines can be given 2 weeks or more apart.
Your vet should know about the vaccination options. If they would like further information, please let them know that they can visit our website. Unless there are any currently unforeseen issues they should be able to order the new vaccine from their wholesaler from 9th December 2024. Initially, only the multi-dose vials are available in December, and the individual doses are from January 2025. Speak to your vet; they may offer vaccination sessions so that the multi-dose vials can be shared between rabbit owners so that you don’t have to cover the cost of the whole vial. However, it is vitally important to maintain separation and biosecurity of rabbits in this situation. Or speak to local rabbit-owning friends and see if you can all arrange appointments within the same day. The vial needs to be used within 10 hours of being opened.
Vaccination is the best way to protect your rabbits against all forms of RVHD and Myxomatosis.
If you have any sudden deaths in vaccinated rabbits which you suspect to be due to RVHD, please report them here.
This is to give us all the most accurate understanding of how to offer the best protection to rabbits.
If there are any outbreaks suspicious for RVHD in your collection, please report with as much detail as you can, as early on as possible, to the Facebook group set up to track the new strain:
Further advice for control of the disease, and if you are attending a rabbit vaccination session at your vets.
No vaccine is or can be 100% effective, and some animals cannot be vaccinated. It is, therefore, very important to reduce the spread of the virus as much as possible.
RVHD is a calicivirus, like one of the viruses often known as “cat flu” and can be carried on both live animals and inanimate objects, where it can persist for a very long time. Its main method of spread is via clothes, shoes, etc,
If you are planning on attending any rabbit event or visiting a place with rabbits, particularly lots of them, and especially if their vaccine status is unknown or they are known to be unvaccinated, then it is very likely that you will return home with the virus on you. For anyone who is concerned about bringing this strain into their home, especially until their rabbits are fully vaccinated, we suggest the following safety and biosecurity measures.
- When leaving your house, change into clean clothes and shoes which have not come into contact with rabbits. We would suggest wearing clothes that are fresh on from being washed, and either shoes that are never worn anywhere near your rabbits, or disinfecting them using a suitable product. The good news is that many disinfectants are effective against the virus, and we would suggest buying a pet-safe one from a pet shop or online or asking your vet for advice. Look for one that claims to kill cat flu, as this is a related virus. I have put some references to types of disinfectants below, but they are quite long and detailed and refer to products, not all of which are available in the UK. If in doubt, use a 1:10 solution of household bleach on the soles of your shoes, but note that this may discolour clothing.
https://catcare.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Infection-Control-Principles-presentation-280319.pdf
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/rhdv-cleaning-guidance.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/epas-registered-antimicrobial-products-effective-against-norovirus-feline - Wash your hands just before leaving the house. Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is better than nothing, but washing properly for 2 minutes in warm/hot, soapy water is ideal.
- If you shake hands, etc, washing your hands in warm, soapy water or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser for at least 1 minute is advised.
- On returning to your home, I would change back into indoor clothes, wash those you have been wearing, disinfect your shoes and wash your hands thoroughly.
- Any shopping you have bought for your rabbits should be quarantined for 2 weeks for inorganic materials like plastic wrap or 3 months for any cloth material, bedding, etc. Or, if necessary, wash anything like fleece beds on at least 60C or 90C if it will take it!
Richard Saunders (he/him) BSc (Hons) BVSc FRSB CBiol DZooMed (Mammalian) DipECZM (ZHM) FHEA FRCVS
Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund Veterinary Advisor
