RHD In The US - The New York Outbreak

RHD In The US - The New York Incident

Here We Go Again. Anyone Feeling Safe?

The Third Outbreak came before we had settled down and assimilated the information, and lack of information, we recieved through the Second Outbreak. We did not save other announcements.

By this time, we were willing to speak publicly about our suspicion that the First Outbreak was a containment exercise carried out by the USDA's laboratory in Ames, Iowa. In conversations with investigators, it seemed as if they had exhausted all possible leads. The rabbits in Iowa had not left the premises since September of 1999. No other infected rabbits in the area could be found. In that the strain identified as the infective agent was a strain that had not been seen since 1997 in Italy, the incident seemed farfetched. In conversation with Dr. Doug Gregg of APHIS, Dr. Gregg offered the theory that a hawk had transported it from Cuba. A hawk migrating north in February? We checked all migrating birds and there was no indication that a bird could have brought it. It was as if someone had walked into some RHD in Europe in 1997, came to the U.S. and put their shoes in the freezer for three years.

As will be noted in our first announcement, we once again reached out to the Rabbit community hoping to bring others together to plan and strategize to stop the spread of RHD. One person, the owner of a large rabbit welfare based health message list responded to an off list invitation. A statement was made supporting the idea, yet attendance was not possible. Furthermore, the response included the statement that "If we wanted a vaccine, we would have to work for it." We are still asking when this work will begin.

While addressing these issues, word came from Australia that steps had been taken to release the virus again, this time through baits.

No word was recieved from HRS regarding the planned study. The Coalition went ahead and began organizing it. The Laboratory for Calicivirus Studies offered to run the diagnostic tests for us, free of charge. It was their newly developed reagents that we were planning on using, it seems appropriate that the work be done in their lab as well.

Emergency Management Warning

Our Response to Warning, Includes Information Gathered Independant of APHIS

Second Announcement Regarding Rabbits Calicivirus Study and Australia

Strategy Planning - Results of the Chat Announced

Impact, Press Releases, and Chats

Waiting For Word...

No word came out of APHIS regarding the New York Outbreak. We waited. In the meantime, another chat is held. Few people came and it was decided to turn the activity into a mailing list.

HRS did respond in time. They declined the offer. We were informed in a private email that they were in fact working on a study of their own and were not interested in free diagnostics.

We used some of this time to further explain what had transpired in the past and how we had reached the conclusions we reached. We found repeated misinformation being circulated by other interest groups and did what we could to create clarity. We began the shelter education program, and asked for donations to support this activity.

We also reached out to HSUS once again and asked them to correct information they had published on their website. Furthermore we asked that they publish an article in their magazine, Sheltering, regarding RHD. They responded affirmatively regarding both. In reality, a redesign of their website wiped out all information regarding RHD. We are still waiting for the article in Sheltering. There was some follow up beyond this in March of 2002. Though long after the third outbreak, we are including a link to that information here.

Old News, Australia and Animal Welfare Organizations Relationship To RHD

It's 2002, Do You Know What The Virus Is Doing?

Explaining Concerns Re Cross Species Infection

January News and Needs

HSUS, Easter, Rabbits and RHD

The Investigation Closes

While waiting, we finally started pushing for information. A call was placed to APHIS to find out what was going on. It was learned that the investigation was closed. After announcing this, both the Coalition and Marguerite Wegner of Australia made repeated inquiries to moderators of ProMed to see if they could get final word from APHIS.

Closed Doors, The Investigation Closes

The ABC's of Rabbits, Caliciviruses and Politics

ProMed Comes Through

Information Comes In

Information continues to flow to and from the Coalition. The following is the latest additions to the knowledge bank.

An article from Dr. Alvin Smith

European Brown Hare Virus and Cottontails

The Coalition Continues the Work

The Third Outbreak has left more questions than answers. Are Caliciviruses endemic in Rabbits as they are in other animals in the US? Are these viruses causing disease symptoms? Has RHD been here for a long time? Will APHIS continue eradication efforts? Is human health effected by RHD? Will any one thoroughly research these issues?

The Coalition continue to work on these issues, searching for answers. With hopes that we can gain support, we have written to legislators. Our Shelter education program continues. We consider litigation and a lot of Out Reach is begun. We start looking at Wildlife issues. We find that the California State Vet's office is sending out misinformation. We stand between possibly infected rabbits and eradication. Vesicular Disease is found in Kansas. We take on a new domain name and give our front page a new look. HSUS FINALLY comes through with an article in Sheltering Magazine. And we have not forgotten the victims.

Letter to Senators - Sent to all on Agriculture and Public Health Committees

Easter 2002 Press Release
(You'll need Adobe's Acrobat Reader - Get It Here)

Letter in Response to CDC's Response Letter

Educate Shelters!

Finding Allies, Litigation and Outreach

Oregon Legislators Listen, We Speak To Fish and Game

Letter to California State Vet.

An Outbreak? No - But We Were Ready

Vesicular Disease in Kansas

Stars Join & Educators Please!

New Domain, New Links & New Look

HSUS Comes Through!

Help!

In Memory

"I simply had the screaming horrors. Great golden Frith, I hope I never have them again! There’s terrible evil in the world."

-- Fiver to Holly

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