SAVE OUR BUNNIES AND HARES FROM RHDV!

RHDV is a disease caused by a virus (Calicivirus) and this is the first detection of the disease in South Africa. The disease results in a high number of deaths in rabbits and hares and animals die suddenly with bleeding in the organs such as the liver, kidney and spleen.

31 August 2022 the first cases RHDV were identified in the Northern Cape of South Africa, it has since spread to parts of the Western Cape caused a lot of pain, suffering and deaths of rabbits (wild and domestic) RHDV is likely to have spread country wide at this point and will have a huge effect on eco system by depleting the food source for birds of prey.

There seems to be no sense of urgency from our state to save our wild hares and our beloved pet bunnies! We need to bring about this urgency and do our part to save the rabbits.

Vaccination Against RHDV

In other countries where RHDV circulates, vaccinations against the virus are given to pet rabbits. Now that the threat to rabbit health is present in the SA, the vaccine is now of extreme importance as one of the measures to save the rabbits.

Currently there are no timelines for the vaccine. We need the state to approve emergency import permits to get the vaccine into the country ASAP! There must be a priority in getting this vaccine.

Waiting for the serotype is irrelevant when there is a vaccine on the market that protects rabbits from all the RHDV strains.

Bio security measures and assistance from the state.

There is currently no bio security measure assistance from the state to reduce the spread of this virus.

The bodies of our deceased rabbits or infected waste and materials should UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES end up on a landfill site, open composting systems or be buried in public spaces, as that will exponentially accelerate the spread of this deadly disease!

• We urgently request the state to act responsibly and to put a stop to the illegal dumping of infectious animal carcasses and waste on landfill sites.
• We urgently request the state fund the cremation services of infected carcasses.
• We urgently request the state fund the disposal of infected material for the public.
• We urgently request the state fund the annual vaccinations for rabbits.
• We urgently request the state prioritize the importation of the RHDV vaccine.

Why the public needs assistance.

• Financially it not feasible for the public to pay for annual vaccinations, the public is already suffering the financial affects from COVID and many owners are already unable to pay for basic medical care or sterilizations. We can assure you that most rabbit owners will not be able to cover the annual costs of vaccinations.
• Further to the above, the public does not have disposable income to fund the burning and composting of infected waste weekly.

The vaccine, cremations and burning of waste are the 3 most critical components to prevent the spread of RHDV. If the state would like to prevent the extinction of our beloved Riverine Rabbit, it is important they assist the public with these bio security measures.

Disease name: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV)

• Severity: Highly contagious, acute and fatal.
• Spread: Contact with infected animal, carcass, bedding. Mechanical transmission e.g. flies, insects or predators eating infected carcasses or infected waste.
• Survival: Virus may persist in chilled or frozen rabbit meat, as well as in decomposing carcasses and infected waste or materials in the environment for many months.