A new deadly virus, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, is killing thousands of wild rabbits in the US
USA TODAY N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY,USA TODAY 4 hours ago
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A deadly virus is spreading across the southwestern United States and killing wild rabbits on this continent for the first time, wildlife officials say.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease virus type 2 can cause swelling, internal bleeding and liver damage in rabbits, hares, jackrabbits and pikas, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The symptoms can appear so rapidly that infected rabbits may die before they're found. Rabbits that have died from the disease may have blood on their mouth or nose.
"It’s going to affect the entire food chain. Everything that feeds on rabbits is going to be affected to some degree," said Ralph Zimmerman, the state veterinarian for New Mexico where the disease first emerged in March.
The disease has killed "thousands" of rabbits in New Mexico alone, according to Zimmerman.
"I’ve had reports of hundreds of dead rabbits," he said. "One of the Game and Fish folks estimated that it would be in the tens of thousands by the time it was done moving through the state."
The highly contagious disease spreads only between rabbits and is not known to affect humans, livestock or other kinds of pets. Wildlife officials are emphasizing that it is not related to coronavirus though there are some parallels.
The virus is spread through contact with infected rabbits, their meat or fur, contaminated food or water or insects and scavengers that have come into contact with infectious material, according to the National Wildlife Health Center.
USA TODAY N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY,USA TODAY 4 hours ago
Reactions Reblog on Tumblr Share Tweet Email
Scroll back up to restore default view.
A deadly virus is spreading across the southwestern United States and killing wild rabbits on this continent for the first time, wildlife officials say.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease virus type 2 can cause swelling, internal bleeding and liver damage in rabbits, hares, jackrabbits and pikas, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The symptoms can appear so rapidly that infected rabbits may die before they're found. Rabbits that have died from the disease may have blood on their mouth or nose.
"It’s going to affect the entire food chain. Everything that feeds on rabbits is going to be affected to some degree," said Ralph Zimmerman, the state veterinarian for New Mexico where the disease first emerged in March.
The disease has killed "thousands" of rabbits in New Mexico alone, according to Zimmerman.
"I’ve had reports of hundreds of dead rabbits," he said. "One of the Game and Fish folks estimated that it would be in the tens of thousands by the time it was done moving through the state."
The highly contagious disease spreads only between rabbits and is not known to affect humans, livestock or other kinds of pets. Wildlife officials are emphasizing that it is not related to coronavirus though there are some parallels.
The virus is spread through contact with infected rabbits, their meat or fur, contaminated food or water or insects and scavengers that have come into contact with infectious material, according to the National Wildlife Health Center.
