Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) was confirmed in wild rabbits in Southern California in May of 2020. At this time, authorities are instructing veterinarians who encounter rabbits that are showing symptoms of RHD, or that have died with symptoms consistent with RHD to contact their local California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Animal Health Branch or call (916) 900-5002.

The CVMA has contacted both the CDFA and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and asked them to pursue obtaining a conditional vaccine import permit through the United States Department of Agriculture Center for Veterinary Biologics (USDA CVB). Both the CDFA and AVMA have responded that they are working on the issue. There are two vaccines being utilized in other countries to protect against RHD: 

• ERAVAC by Hipra
• FILAVAC by Filavie

Additional Information Resources

California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) resources:

• Public Fact Sheet
• Biosecurity Recommendations

Information from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW): 

• Public Information Page
• Online Mortality Report Form for Sick or Dead Wild Rabbits