What is RHD?

Question: What is RHD?

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a serious disease of rabbits that is rare in the US but endemic in other countries. The terms used to describe the diesease are somewhat confusing.

Answer: RHD is a viral disease of rabbits which up until 2000 had never been seen in the United States. However, it is endemic (commonly seen) in parts of Europe, Asia and some African countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand. It is a serious and potentially devastating disease.

RHD Goes by Many Names
In addition to RHD, this disease has also been called Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (VHD) and Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD) although RHD is now considered the most accurate term.

History
The first case was reported in the Peoples Republic of China in 1984. RHD was first seen in European wild and domestic rabbit populations in 1985. In 1988, the first case in the Western Hemisphere occurred in Mexico. The disease has also been seen in Australia, New Zealand, and Cuba.

The Australian outbreak 1995 occurred after the virus was being investigated as a biological control agent for an overabundant rabbit population. The virus "escaped" from a field trial and it is estimated that it killed 10 million rabbits in 8 weeks.

Species Affected
The disease affects the species Oryctolagus cuniculus (the European rabbit), which is the species from which virtually all US domestic rabbits are derived. Native north American rabbits (jack rabbits and cotton tails) are resistant to the virus.

There is no evidence that the virus that causes RHD can spread to other species.

Return to RHD Frequently Asked Questions