Thousands of rabbits dying from a deadly virus sweeping USA #Rabbits #USA

A highly-contagious virus is threatening to destroy wild and domestic rabbit populations across the United States.

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease virus type 2 is believed to have spread to the U.S. from Europe, and was first reported to have killed wild rabbits in New Mexico back in March.

In the months since, the virus has killed thousands of wild rabbits and hares in Texas, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado. Last week, the Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed that the disease has now spread to California, after the carcasses of 20 black-tailed jack rabbits were discovered on a property in Palm Springs.

The disease is also killing domestic rabbits. Nearly 500 pet rabbits have been killed by the virus in New Mexico alone. The Agriculture Department estimates that there are around 6.7 million pet rabbits owned by households across the U.S.

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease virus type 2 can cause seizures, fever and internal swelling and bleeding. Some dead rabbits are discovered with blood near their noses and mouths.

Wildlife experts have stressed that the virus is not transmissible to humans, and has no connection to the COVID-19 outbreak currently spreading across the United States.

However, like the coronavirus, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease is extremely contagious and can be spread via asymptomatic carriers.

While rabbits are most likely to spread the virus among themselves – via their pelts and feces – it is also able to be transmitted by insects and scavengers that have come into contact with the infected animals.

Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

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