RHD has been identified in PA

Big Mac said:

It is my understanding that a solution of 10% bleach is a disinfectant for this virus, and that temperature above 122f is also a way to eradicate it. So the protocol involves wash down with detergent and water, followed by disinfectant with bleach solution, and heat gun or prickly pear burner to all equipment and cages. Second remove wild population at your location, in my case it is my cat who does this for me, no wild rabbit within five acres of my rabbits, however she may be a carrier, so she is not allowed in the rabbity.

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I’m reading that mosquitoes can carry the virus from one animal to another and that rodents and other animals can carry the virus, but without any I’ll effects. So, I really don’t know what to think about any of it. Just read up on bio security, enact what you can and hope for the best.

KelleyBee said:

I’m reading that mosquitoes can carry the virus from one animal to another....

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Are rabbits prone to mosquito bites? I live in central Kentucky--there are certainly mosquitoes here but not like the swarms that are in swampy areas of the country.

I wouldn't know what to look for if my rabbits got mosquito bites. Maybe on their ears?

I have a lot of air moving in my rabbit barn. There are screens over the fans, but that is 1/2" x 1/2" screen to keep animals out. If I put window screening over those windows the airflow would be cut in half. Which means I'd put in an additional fan. Of course, I'll do whatever needs to be done.

MnCanary said:

Are rabbits prone to mosquito bites? I live in central Kentucky--there are certainly mosquitoes here but not like the swarms that are in swampy areas of the country.

I wouldn't know what to look for if my rabbits got mosquito bites. Maybe on their ears?

I have a lot of air moving in my rabbit barn. There are screens over the fans, but that is 1/2" x 1/2" screen to keep animals out. If I put window screening over those windows the airflow would be cut in half. Which means I'd put in an additional fan. Of course, I'll do whatever needs to be done.

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I don't know if they are prone to mosquito bites but wouldn't doubt it when you consider what mosquitoes are doing.... they find their host by detecting the carbon dioxide breathed out by humans and animals. They land, insert and suck the blood.

KelleyBee said:

I don't know if they are prone to mosquito bites but wouldn't doubt it when you consider what mosquitoes are doing.... they find their host by detecting the carbon dioxide breathed out by humans and animals. They land, insert and suck the blood.

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I've seen a rabbit being bitten by a mosquito, on the inner edge of the lower eyelid. The rabbit didn't notice and there was no raised bump. It's possible rabbits don't react to bites meaning it's not possible to find evidence they've been bitten.

MsTemeraire said:

Yes, RHD2 is different and has crossed over to infect hares in Europe. As native American species are more closely related to hares than domestic rabbits, it has infected them too. It's not related to the Myxoma virus, it's from the calicivirus family.

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Just to add, European brown hares have now been getting myxomatosis, so it's possible that eventually it may affect US native species in the future.

KelleyBee said:

Your post brings up 2 questions: as to boosting immune systems are you speaking of vitamin and mineral supplements for rabbits? And, what about the viruses ability to survive on foods, such as pellets. I'm wondering if we should be buying pellets made in states with no virus currently detected in wild rabbit populations.

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Good morning!
I guess I am just speaking in general about boosting immune systems. We give our rabbits water with vitamins and electrolytes in it when it is hot. That way, they can drink some nutrition if it is too hot for them to eat.
On a regular basis we give the rabbits: raw cider vinegar, natural mineral salt, diatomaceous earth, local hay, pellets, fresh wild greens, fresh branches (year round) and fresh veggies.
They are also starting to get Ivermectin on a schedule, just to help cut the numbers of parasites.
I don't think I can concern myself with where the pellets were made. I don't have many options--especially price wise.

You know, our own "gut" is full of deadly bacteria. That is true of very healthy people. It is only when there is an imbalance that we get sick. Our systems are not sterile environments. They are quite alive.

Anyway, it helps me to think of that!
God bless you!

MsTemeraire said:

I've seen a rabbit being bitten by a mosquito, on the inner edge of the lower eyelid. The rabbit didn't notice and there was no raised bump. It's possible rabbits don't react to bites meaning it's not possible to find evidence they've been bitten.

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I was thinking the exact same thing but have no way of knowing for sure. I am constantly scouting my yard for standing water and getting rid of it. They say mosquitoes can reproduce in very shallow films of water.

We live in a state recognized wetlands. This effects many aspects of our lives! Mosquitoes are part of the program because that is largely the basis of what the wetland wildlife eat. Eradicating mosquitoes is regulated by law here.

Encouraging the birds that eat mosquitoes and bats (put up bat houses as well as bird houses) really helps to keep the numbers down. That is what the Army Corps of Engineers does in their parks.

Of course, getting rid of standing water in buckets, tires and other evident mosquito hot spots is helpful, too!

There are Mosquito Dunks and Bits which are a natural way to kill mosquito larvae in standing water, before they are ready to fly and bite. I think this utilizes nematodes which are harmless organisms, except to mosquito larvae. You can get this product through Amazon or Walmart.

If you put up one of those electric bug "zappers" a small distance from your rabbits, it will probably draw the mosquitoes away and take care of your problem!

God bless you!

KelleyBee said:

I was thinking the exact same thing but have no way of knowing for sure. I am constantly scouting my yard for standing water and getting rid of it. They say mosquitoes can reproduce in very shallow films of water.

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I have observed their egg rafts under leaves in the forest. Once upon a time I grew mosquitos for fish food so I became very familiar of the life stages. I can not say I have ever seen a nymph not in water.

@Therese bat boxes are really good for the migratory bats. For birds I encourage people (on the east coast) to build "chimneys" in their yards. I have one client who actually elected to leave his unused chimney open for the family of chimney swifts that adopted his home. Chimney swifts eat their weight in insects every day. How many mosquitoes does it takes to make up 21 grams? (Hint 10,500 !)

Therese said:

...
If you put up one of those electric bug "zappers" a small distance from your rabbits, it will probably draw the mosquitoes away and take care of your problem!

God bless you!

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I would station it as far from the rabbits as possible (well maybe 100 feet is possible for some and that would be extreme, but 50 feet easily). While it will attract insects that are near the rabbits, it will attract them from farther away too. Which brings them near the rabbits. I keep my Japanese beetle trap far from from my garden for the same reason.

A good mosquito trap can be made using an IR LED and a CO2 generator. The IR simulates a heat sources and the CO2 simulates exhalation. Blue and UV are not the spectrum that attracts mosquitoes. Create a funnel trap by using two 1 or 2 liter bottles. I go so far as bonding two bottle caps together for easy change outs. The upper one has "windows" cut out to allow entry. You would then build the LED circuit. A simple 2 AA cell pack, a switch, a resistor, a Red LED, and an IR Led. The red one lets you know the circuit is on. Get fancy and put a solar recharger in and a potentiameter to turn it on after dark. One could use a solar yard light and add the IR LED. Any how, the real trick is an affordable CO2 generator. Add another bottle to the system. A hose runs from this one to the bottom of the twain. Put sugar water and bread yeast in this one. Admittedly, this is theoretical, I've never been motivated to make one. I have used this method successfully for bed bugs ! Although that trap is much simpler.

How about faith that you and your rabbits will be fine, and nothing will happen? Don’t borrow trouble, After all that the world is going through is it really necessary to spoil the happiness of having rabbits It is proven that 88% of what people fear will happen never happens, and the 12% has already happened or,is beyond your power to do anything about. No scientific evidence of transfer by mosquitoes.

Big Mac said:

How about faith that you and your rabbits will be fine, and nothing will happen? Don’t borrow trouble, After all that the world is going through is it really necessary to spoil the happiness of having rabbits It is proven that 88% of what people fear will happen never happens, and the 12% has already happened or,is beyond your power to do anything about. No scientific evidence of transfer by mosquitoes.

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How about speaking to people who have had this virus and watched their rabbits die? Or had their State euthanize any survivors? The virus exists, it's rampaged through Europe for the last 7-10 years and is now in 22 states in the US as well as some in Canada.

Burying your head in the sand won't keep it away; keeping up to date on developments, vaccinating, biosecurity, and education will.

MsTemeraire said:

How about speaking to people who have had this virus and watched their rabbits die? Or had their State euthanize any survivors? The virus exists, it's rampaged through Europe for the last 7-10 years and is now in 22 states in the US as well as some in Canada.

Burying your head in the sand won't keep it away; keeping up to date on developments, vaccinating, biosecurity, and education will.

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Exactly what in my comments gave you the idea I was suggesting to ignore safety? Or do anything unreasonable, because I did NOT! what I said was you don’t have any scientific evidence, no studies showing the transfer by mosquitoes, and not,to become hysterical.
CALM DOWN!

A case of the virus was found on Maui. They suspect some new workers on the rabbit farm brought it in with them on their clothing since the farm hadn't brought in any rabbits lately. Kinda scary to think the virus can survive on clothing and then infect healthy rabbits.

They did bring in some vaccine and the rest of the rabbits at that rabbitry on Maui got vaccinated. There was also some rabbits on this island who got vaccinated, although all the available slots were taken up before I found out. Looking over the risk, though, boxing up the entire herd and shifting it over to where there's a bunch of other rabbits just doesn't sound like a good idea so I don't know if I would have taken them to get vaccinated even if there was vaccine for them.

We no longer allow visitors into the rabbit yard. The rabbits don't leave and no rabbits visit. There is now a mandatory 30 day quarantine for all incoming rabbits to the state. That's a good thing.

There aren't in wild rabbits in Hawaii, so we don't have to worry about them spreading a virus. About the only land mammals we have here are dogs, cats, mongoose, rats and mice. Lizards and geckos, though, do lizards transmit this virus? Lots of chickens and birds, would they be a vector?

We just got out first case in my State
(Not specifically my rabbits)

KelleyBee said:

I’m reading that mosquitoes can carry the virus from one animal to another and that rodents and other animals can carry the virus, but without any I’ll effects. So, I really don’t know what to think about any of it. Just read up on bio security, enact what you can and hope for the best.

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We live in a very humid environment but never see mosquitoes [so far] but we have lots of bats out at night.

hotzcatz said:

A case of the virus was found on Maui. They suspect some new workers on the rabbit farm brought it in with them on their clothing since the farm hadn't brought in any rabbits lately. Kinda scary to think the virus can survive on clothing and then infect healthy rabbits.

They did bring in some vaccine and the rest of the rabbits at that rabbitry on Maui got vaccinated. There was also some rabbits on this island who got vaccinated, although all the available slots were taken up before I found out. Looking over the risk, though, boxing up the entire herd and shifting it over to where there's a bunch of other rabbits just doesn't sound like a good idea so I don't know if I would have taken them to get vaccinated even if there was vaccine for them.

We no longer allow visitors into the rabbit yard. The rabbits don't leave and no rabbits visit. There is now a mandatory 30 day quarantine for all incoming rabbits to the state. That's a good thing.

There aren't in wild rabbits in Hawaii, so we don't have to worry about them spreading a virus. About the only land mammals we have here are dogs, cats, mongoose, rats and mice. Lizards and geckos, though, do lizards transmit this virus? Lots of chickens and birds, would they be a vector?

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That old-fashioned quarantine program is really important and a powerful way to prevent introducing and spreading of diseases/parasites!
One of our friends told us of a successful rabbit farmer she knew who had more than 200 rabbits. He purchased an expensive rabbit at a show, brought it home, and put it right into his rabbitry (no quarantine). Very soon, he lost ALL of his rabbits to something that fancy rabbit had been carrying.

We quarantine any new rabbits for a month (it seems like a year while they are in quarantine!!!). My guess is that if everyone took responsibility for new animals by quarantining them (all types of new animals) it would help the larger disease situation.