Received By Coalition On September 24, 2001
Emergency Management Warning 4: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (Viral Hemorrhagic Disease of Rabbits ) FINAL Update:
Background Information:On August 17, 2001, USDA's Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) confirmed rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD), also known as rabbit calicivirus disease, based on hemagglutination tests and electron microscopy, in a rabbitry in Utah County, Utah.
Please refer to EMOC's 1 through 3 for more details on the background of events.
Utah update:
Both premises have been depopulated, cleaned, and disinfected. Depopulation of the both herds has been done. Cleaning and disinfection of both premises is ongoing. Utah State and federal officials are continuing to interview people who had previous contact with any of these rabbits.Montana Update:
As a result of possible exposure at the Yellowstone County Fair, the State Veterinarian placed 15 premises under quarantine. Since this time the quarantines have been lifted.Idaho Update:
The 3,600 rabbits traveling through Idaho on a truck and considered to be contacts of the Montana premises were euthanized and disposed of appropriately.Illinois Update:
The Mercer County premises, which received 72 rabbits from the infected Utah premises, was depopulated, cleaned, and disinfected.APHIS, Veterinary Services (VS) considers this current outbreak to be over. Rabbits on infected and direct contact premises have been depopulated and the premises have been cleaned and disinfected. There have been no further suspect cases. VS will continue to investigate reports of suspect RHD as part of their foreign animal disease surveillance program.
From all of the epidemiological data gathered so far, the outbreak has been contained to the premises mentioned above. Tracing in all affected States has revealed no other rabbit movements from these premises before quarantines were in place. No trace in source of the virus has been identified.
As a result of this second outbreak, VS will continue the process of collecting information on the rabbit industries in efforts to minimize the impact of this disease on the industry. Industry input will be necessary and important if the outcome is to accommodate the broad range of issues of the rabbit industry.
If you have any questions please contact the Emergency Programs staff at 301-734-8073, 800-940-6524, or EMOC@APHIS.USDA.GOV. Please forward this information to other Federal, State, and industry counterparts as necessary.
--P. J. O'Rourke
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