- Rabbit hemorrhagic disease has been detected in Utah's wild rabbits for first time since 2022.
- RHDV-2 causes internal bleeding leading to sudden death in affected rabbits.
- Utah wildlife officials urge caution handling rabbit carcasses to prevent disease spread.
SALT LAKE CITY — A highly infectious, often fatal viral disease affecting rabbits has been detected in Utah's wildlife for the first time in four years.
Dead cottontail rabbits found in the Kamas area in late May and black-tailed jackrabbits found in Tooele County tested positive for rabbit hemorrhagic disease, RHDV-2, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources confirmed on Tuesday.
It's the first time the disease has been detected in Utah rabbits this year, following a case involving a domestic rabbit last year, according to the state. The disease was last found in wild Utah rabbits in 2022 and had previously been discovered in Iron, Sanpete, San Juan, Uintah, and Wayne counties since it reached the U.S. in 2020.
RHDV-2 is a viral disease that affects domestic and wild rabbit species, impacting the animal's ability to clot blood, leading to internal hemorrhaging. It causes "sudden death and blood-stained noses caused by internal bleeding," according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The agency notes that it's spread through contact with infected rabbits, including their meat, fur or other materials. Utah is one of a little more than a dozen states that have reported cases of the disease.
The disease is not known to affect humans or livestock, Ginger Stout, the division's veterinarian, points out. However, she still urges that Utahns take precautions while handling rabbit or hare carcasses, which can help limit the spread of the disease or other infectious diseases.
"The virus can survive for months in the environment and can spread from dead rabbit carcasses or through food, water and any other contaminated materials, like the urine or feces of sick rabbit or through contact with the feces of predators that have eaten infected rabbits," she said. "People can spread the virus indirectly by carrying it on their clothing and shoes if walking in and around areas where deceased rabbits are found."
Utah wildlife officials urge people to report potential cases of the disease, warning that it's "extremely difficult to control" once it's established in the wild.
People who see rabbits or hares with signs of bleeding from their mouth or nose should take a photo and send it to their local Utah Division of Wildlife Resources office, along with the location where the animal was spotted.
The agency also recommends that people not harvest rabbits that appear sick or lethargic, decontaminate materials worn while cleaning harvested rabbits and cooking all meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
