Question: How Do I Prevent the Transmission of RHD to my Rabbits?
Answer: The key to preventing transmission is to be very careful about any situation where new rabbits are brought to the home, or where you have contact with rabbits and could potentially carry the virus home to your rabbits.
- quarantine new rabbits for at least 6 weeks. 5 days is recommended in many references, as that covers the incubation period for active cases. However, some rabbits can carry the virus with no symptoms, yet shed the virus for several weeks.
- quarantine any rabbits returning from shows etc. for at least 6 weeks.
- be especially careful if importing rabbits or rabbit products from countries where RHD is endemic.
- disinfect any cages and equipment brought onto the premises with a 10% bleach solution or parvocidal disinfectant.
- make sure you do not carry the virus to your rabbit via your clothing or shoes. If you have contact with other rabbits including at pet stores, shelter, or shows, change and wash your clothes, wash your hands and disinfect your footwear before handling your rabbits and equipment.
- keep rabbits indoors.
- make sure your food supplier doesn't have rabbits on the premises that could contaminate the food source.
- try to limit pests including insects and rodents that could potentially carry the virus to your rabbits.
- be aware that cats and dogs that have left your home could also carry the virus back (e.g. on their paws) so keep these isolated from your rabbits (especially during an outbreak).
Killed vaccines to protect rabbits are available in other parts of the world but are not approved nor legal for use in the US. US officials are concerned that vaccination will do little to stop the spread of the disease and would rather make sure the virus is eradicated (although the vaccine is effective at preventing the clinical symptoms in vaccinated rabbits).