Responding To RHD
What to do if you suspect RHD infection.
There are things that are best put in place prior to a possible outbreak. Make sure your Vet is aware of the proper procedures. Though Vets are trained in how to deal with foriegn disease outbreaks, they may have to refresh their memory. And we have spoken to many Vet's who are not entirely up on the what's and how's of RHD.If you suspect RHD, you can contact your State's RHD in the US Coalition Volunteer. If no one has accepted this position in your State refer to the nearest Volunteer. Or call the RHD in the US hotline - 800.906.2445. We may have information about outbreaks or your State's resources and jurisdiction that has not yet been published on these pages. We will also help you accomplish the following tasks if you want such help.
Call your Veterinarian. If you actually have a case of RHD, it is possible that your Vet will be seeing other cases shortly, if she has not done so allready. She may not have recognized the symptoms, and very few Rabbits are necropsied.
Look at all possiblities. Has your Rabbit had any possible contact with poisons? There are some cancers that cause heamorrhaging. Look at these as a possibilties with your Vet. Is there any reason to suspect RHD other than death? For example have you come in contact with other Rabbits who may have been carrying the disease. Any Rabbit who's past two month's history is questionable could be a carrier. Has someone who has traveled abroad come in contact with you or your Rabbit? They may have picked up some viral particles and carried them home on their clothing. Start compiling a list of where you or your Rabbit has been for the past two weeks. You may have brought it home yourself. Note contact with other Animals. A diary will assist investigators in determining where the infection originated from. Erradication efforts will depend on this type of information in order to set perimeters. The more they know, the sooner they will pinpoint the originating point. This may save other Rabbits lives. Those who are erradicating the disease will want this information. Rabbits die suddenly with no apparent cause all the time. As one scientist said, it's when 80% of them die that it is time to start suspecting RHD. So if you have several Rabbits, ruling out or suspecting RHD is affected by your current mortality rate.
If after speaking with your Vet your suspicions are still intact, it is time to call in State authorities if available. Your path at this point is unclear. You may be lucky and have a State whose lab is capable of handleling the first diagnostic procedures. They will pass information on to the State Veterinarian who will then get in touch with APHIS. However you may be part of the majority of US residents who's State Department of Agriculture, Veterinarian Services or Animal Health Departments are not sure of jurisdiction or are not aware of RHD. APHIS does not have full jurisdiction over a possible outbreak. They will be involved because foreign Animal Diseases are of great concern to them. And legally they will have some jurisdiction over an outbreak because they do have jurisdiction over Foriegn Animal Diseases. However, Rabbits are not considered Livestock by Federal Regulations. Many States that we have contacted are unclear about where their jurisdiction lies as well. Within a month of writing this we will have finished compiling pages on each State's protocol. At this time many are unaware of RHD. Until we have educated States Veterinarians, until jurisdiction is defined, until there is a clear and direct path to confirmation of RHD, you'll have to do the research yourself. You can start with your Vet, ascertain if she knows the correct path to the right Lab, and the right agency. If your State is not aware of RHD or their jurisdiction, get in touch with APHIS Emergency Programs of the Veterinary Services Division at 301.734.8073. They will get involved and help clear the path to confirmation. They will certainly take over the initial necropsy if your State is unwilling or unable. In States who's Labs do preliminary testing, samples will be passed on to APHIS. APHIS will also test and confirm the presence or lack of presence of RHD eventually. Confused? So are we and so is the government. We are trying to clear up this confusion. Those in California have a very clear path. The defined steps in California are private Veterinarian, State Diagnostic Laboratory, State Veterinarian, APHIS. Hopefully we will soon have clear defined steps for each state. Part of creating that clarity is getting individual State Veterinarians to look at the need for clarification and then defining their role and the role of state labs.
Stop all movement out of your home of Rabbits, engage in strict sanitary measures. Remember each time you or yours leave the house, you may be carrying the disease with you. Do not take sick Rabbits to the Vet without strict safeguards. You may be infecting Rabbits being treated there. Your Vet may want you to enter through a back entrance. If you are bringing sick or deceased Rabbits to your Vet, consider the possible scenarios for spreading the disease and take common sense precautions. Stay away from Shelters, Pet and Feed stores. Remember, no Rabbit is an island.
Do not bury deceased Rabbits. Do not take deceased Rabbits to be cremated. Let government officials handle this. Eventually APHIS will be involved. They can and will handle this. Double bag and securely tie remains. Disinfect the outside of the bag with a 10% bleach solution. The virus will still be present and millions of viruses will be mutating in the body. These can be spread through the environment. Sanitize your hands, clothing, the environment thoroughly.
If RHD is confirmed keep one thing in mind, this is an emergency situation and the community needs to know what is going on if Rabbits are to be saved. We will help. There is no way to know what the presence of RHD will mean. If you have just purchased Rabbits from outside of the US, yours may be an isolated incident. It may be that only your Rabbits will be affected. If that is not the case, there is no black and white answer to what is happening or going to happen in regards to other Rabbits in your community. One thing for certain, APHIS will not be immediately doing a circle kill. Even if they have jurisdiction, this is not how they operate. Every case is potentially different. Even then, there are no Rabbit police who will seek out each Rabbit within 100 miles.
One thing that we hope will happen is that your community will be on alert and Rabbits will be safeguarded by their caretakers by restricting movement until the origin of the disease and any subsequent spread has been determined.
This will not be an easy situation if you are the first to report the disease. You will be loosing those you care for. By being public about it and following the right procedures, you will save countless lives. Get some support. This can be an emotional situation. Be kind to yourself and have people in your circle who understand.
If you suspect RHD in Rabbits other than your own, encourage the caretaker of the Rabbits to do the above. If they refuse, do it yourself. Ask questions about movement and other possible causes of infection. Call your state volunteer and together you can map out a plan to bring in the authorities.
in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if
it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind. "
--Dr. Albert Schweitzer
The RHD In The Us Website Is Sponsored By Kind Planet