Overview

• Medivet says soaring summer temperatures boosting biting fly numbers could place nearly one million pet rabbits at risk of RVHD2 infection.
• RVHD2 is highly contagious and often fatal in rabbits, causing fever, lethargy, appetite loss and bleeding that can lead to sudden death.
• The virus spreads through direct contact, contaminated surfaces, insect bites and even on human clothing, endangering both domestic and wild rabbit populations.
• Medivet recommends seven biosecurity steps, including housing rabbits indoors with fine-mesh fencing, quarantining new arrivals for 30 days and avoiding vegetation from wild habitats.
• A cross-strain vaccine proven to protect against RVHD2 exists but is currently out of stock in the UK, prompting veterinary bodies to monitor availability closely.