The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has confirmed the presence of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (rhdv2) in multiple black-tailed jackrabbits in Runnel County.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, this marked Texas’ 35th county since March 2020, with the first wild detection since March 2020.
Researchers are currently examining Rhdv2 endemic disease in Texas due to the number of these detections and the wide geographical distribution. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects both household and wild rabbit species, including fleas, jack rabbits and coton tails. This virus appears to affect only rabbit species and is not known to affect humans, livestock, or pets. However, pets should not consume dead animals’ corpses.
Rhdv2 is almost always deadly and affects rabbits of all ages. Domestic rabbit owners are encouraged to practice appropriate biosecurity protocols and consult their veterinarian about vaccinations. Clinical signs of rhdv2 include bluntness, lethargy, loss of appetite, bleeding from the nose and eyes, or watery, crowded eyes. However, it can be seen that most affected rabbits are generally dead.
The virus can last in rabbit corpses for months after death. TPWD recommends that hunters move the amount of biological material possible from the harvest site to a minimum. Hunters transporting harvested rabbits should throw away the remaining parts of the trash bin heading towards the landfill.
TPWD continues to respond to wild rabbit and flea death events throughout the state. Residents who are aware of diseased or dead wild rabbits are urged to contact local TPWD wildlife biologists. For more information about the wild rabbit RHDV2, please visit the RHDV page on the TPWD website.
