My parents are scared of RHDV2

[YashiJ]

So I was gonna get 2 rabbits, but since RHDV2 my parents have started to get reluctant to adopt at the moment. We are scared that the rabbits may catch it regardless of being inside the house. They are concerned that it will mutate and affect humans like with Covid-19(I doubt it). They won’t ever go outside until it goes away but we dont want a rabbit dying.... so my question is how do I reassure my parents, and how do I prevent it from affecting my rabbits? Is it a good idea to adopt rt now? I’ve been waiting for rabbits for 4 months!

 

[helena]

RHDV2 as far as I know, hasn't spread to all the states in the USA.

• Delta and Vancouver Island, Canada – February 2018
• Ohio – September 2018
• Orcas Island, Washington – 2019
• Pennsylvania - 2019
• New York City, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas – 2020

I found the above from Oxbow Animal Health this source. As long as you are careful, your rabbit shouldn't get it. I don't have much experience with it, but it sounds so sad. Hope you find an adorable bun if you adopt!

 

[YashiJ]

RHDV2 as far as I know, hasn't spread to all the states in the USA.

• Delta and Vancouver Island, Canada – February 2018
• Ohio – September 2018
• Orcas Island, Washington – 2019
• Pennsylvania - 2019
• New York City, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas – 2020

I found the above from Oxbow Animal Health this source. As long as you are careful, your rabbit shouldn't get it. I don't have much experience with it, but it sounds so sad. Hope you find an adorable bun if you adopt!

I’m in Texas...

 

[helena]

I searched again and found that as of April 20th 2020, only 3 domestic rabbits have had it. It doesn't seem like many. As long as you are washing your hands, it should be okay. Also, it can't spread to humans.

 

[YashiJ]

Alright thx maybe since we are taking measure for Covid 19 it will be the same for this

 

[helena]

I would just say take obvious precautions, like washing your hands before and after hanging with your rabbit. It would be a good practice to wash hands anyway. During flu season and now covid season, i wash my hands sooooo much. Hope you can adopt the bunny of your dreams . It would actually probably be safer for the bunny to be in your home than in a room with lots of pets and people. Shelters and rescues can be crowed places.

 

[YashiJ]

Another question. My parents are scared of covid 19 sticking to their fur. Is that possible? How should we prevent it?

 

[helena]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) frequently asked questions
According to the link above, so far they don't think it can. It would only be in your home and yard anyway right? Right when you get it, if you are worried about that, maybe just use a damp (not wet, just slightly damp) towel and rub the bunny...... i'd be surprised if you caught Corona from a bunnies fur.

 

[Mehidk]

RHDV2 as far as I know, hasn't spread to all the states in the USA.

• Delta and Vancouver Island, Canada – February 2018
• Ohio – September 2018
• Orcas Island, Washington – 2019
• Pennsylvania - 2019
• New York City, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas – 2020

I found the above from Oxbow Animal Health this source. As long as you are careful, your rabbit shouldn't get it. I don't have much experience with it, but it sounds so sad. Hope you find an adorable bun if you adopt!

As of this month, 3 wild rabbits in CA have been added to the list. HRS reported this on their website.

https://rabbit.org/rhdv/

 

[SableSteel]

It has no chance of mutating and affecting humans (the disease has been in contact with humans for a long time - its only new to the USA, previously it was in Europe & Australia). However, personally I think it's not a great time to get a rabbit. Unless you can find somebody with one rabbit getting rid of it and you only plan to get one. I would be wary that any rescue that was still allowing strangers on the premise wasn't taking RHDV2 seriously. They are in the process of getting a vaccine temporarily allowed into the US so you might want to wait it out a bit longer until the spread of the disease has slowed a bit and the vaccine is more readily available.
And I don't really think COVID sticking to their fur is something to worry about.

 

[YashiJ]

It has no chance of mutating and affecting humans (the disease has been in contact with humans for a long time - its only new to the USA, previously it was in Europe & Australia). However, personally I think it's not a great time to get a rabbit. Unless you can find somebody with one rabbit getting rid of it and you only plan to get one. I would be wary that any rescue that was still allowing strangers on the premise wasn't taking RHDV2 seriously. They are in the process of getting a vaccine temporarily allowed into the US so you might want to wait it out a bit longer until the spread of the disease has slowed a bit and the vaccine is more readily available.


View attachment 47722

They are currently in a foster home away from other rabbits. They were the ones that alerted us about the virus.

 

[Eve84]

Hi ,
There are vaccines for RhD and also the new RHD 2. I get all my four rabbits vaccinated they are living outside but even if they would indoor I would still do it and then you are on the safe side.

Good luck

 

[Preitler]

For humans it's just another of the many thousands of viruses that are around us at all times and do nothing to us, and has no potential to mutate in that way.

For rabbits, that's a risk to live with until a vaccine is available to you, but considering case numbers it's still a small one where you live. If there isn't a wild or feral rabbit population around your place that would be good, and since you are aware of the problem avoiding other rabbits should reduce the risk to levels where other things are a lot more of a problem.

It's something to be aware of, but no reason for panic.

 

[Mac189]

Hi ,
There are vaccines for RhD and also the new RHD 2. I get all my four rabbits vaccinated they are living outside but even if they would indoor I would still do it and then you are on the safe side.

Good luck

Vaccines for rabbits aren't available in the US, but it's a nice thought

 

[Eve84]

Vaccines for rabbits aren't available in the US, but it's a nice thought

Ups... ok that’s a shame... but it isn’t contagious for humans.

 

[YashiJ]

Hi ,
There are vaccines for RhD and also the new RHD 2. I get all my four rabbits vaccinated they are living outside but even if they would indoor I would still do it and then you are on the safe side.

Good luck

Are you talking about RHDV1?If there were vaccines they would soon be available around the world?

 

[YashiJ]

wait nvm filivac is available in the UK

 

[Eve84]

For RHDV1 and 2 are vaccines available

 

[Mac189]

Are you talking about RHDV1?If there were vaccines they would soon be available around the world?

Since RHDV is so uncommon in the states and the vaccine is not certified by the boards here, it is still not available. Maybe in Canada, but I don't know for sure on that. Unless the outbreak becomes endemic and widespread, I doubt many vets would carry it if they could, it's unlikely they could use a case of vaccines before they expire!

 

[Donna Standar]

So I was gonna get 2 rabbits, but since RHDV2 my parents have started to get reluctant to adopt at the moment. We are scared that the rabbits may catch it regardless of being inside the house. They are concerned that it will mutate and affect humans like with Covid-19(I doubt it). They won’t ever go outside until it goes away but we dont want a rabbit dying.... so my question is how do I reassure my parents, and how do I prevent it from affecting my rabbits? Is it a good idea to adopt rt now? I’ve been waiting for rabbits for 4 months!

What is RHDV2?